HItherto you haue ſpoken of the general methode, nowe declare with what remedies Vlcers are cured.

Were it not better to vſe Praecipitat. ſo much magnified of Vigo?

I muſt approue alſo the vſe of this powder wel prepared: for it mundifieth Vlceration without paines, it correcteth the malignitie, it maketh the ſubtill matter groſſe, and bringeth it to good digeſtion.

I pray you giue vs the deſcription of Vnguentum Egiptiacum.

Recip. Aqua Plantag. Vini Granatorum. Mellis Licii. Ana. ℥ ij. Floris Acris, Aluis Rocſa, An. ʒ x.

Let all boyle to a Conſiſtance.

Let me heare how in Vlcers theſe kinde of powders or Vnguents doe pierce to the inmoſt parts.

If mixed with Barbers Lie and Mel Roſarum, they be iniected with a Syring, as Vigo teacheth.

And what muſt be done after mundification?

Then we take of Aquar. Hordei. l j. Mel Roſarum, ℥ iij. Sarcolla, ʒ ij. Mirrha, Thuris, An. ʒ j Vini o doris, ℥ vj.

Let theſe be voyled to the conſumption of the third part, it is good to comfort and incarnate the place.

What remedie is there for ſuperfluous and proud fleſh?

The powder of burnt Allome, ſetting on Splegiants, whereon they put the Emplaſters.

Are all Vlcers then cured with theſe remedies?

No: there are certain inueterate Vlcers that are named Chirons or Telephis: Vlcers there are alſo of harder conſolidation, repreſenting the nature of Mercurie, which ought to be cured with other remedies.

With what remedies I pray you?

With Oyle of Mercurie, Oyle of Antimonie, or Oyle of Sulphur.

Let vs leaue theſe remedies to Alchumiſts, and ſhew vs thoſe that we may prepare withou difficulty.

Moſt gladly: and if you be not content with one, I will giue you more.

Recipe Serpentaria vtriuſque. An. M. ij. Ariſtolocia acutae. an. l s̄. Conſolida ponticae. an. l s̄.

Contundantur, & cum Terebinth. l i. & s̄. & Olei Oliuarum ℥ iiij. frat Vnguentum. With this Vnguent all affectes of the ſkin, euen Phagacdena it ſelf is cured.

Another. Recip. Succi Chelidoni, l j▪ Alocs Epat. ℥ ij. Mumia, ℥ j Viridis Aeris. ℥ j Almis Vſti. ℥ ij.

Terantur Subt. quae terenda ſunt, & cum Succo digerantur in calore per dies octo. Poſt vlcera panis in co madefactis ligentur.

Another. Recip. Argenti viui, ℥ s̄. Mortif. ℥ s̄. Ceruſa ℥ ij Euphorbie. ʒ ij. Saxiphragie, An. ʒ j Litargirii, An. ʒ j Sandalorum, An. ʒ j Anxvngia por. q. ſ, Another. Recip. Virid. earis. ℥ s̄. Almis Vſti. ℥ ij Henrici rubei vt vocant. ʒ vj Terebinth. diſtil. l. j. miſce. Another. Recip. Salis Armoniaci, ℥ iij Salis communis. ℥ s̄.

Buliant in aqua, poſt adde gumi Attramentum ℥ iij. & liqueſcunt ſimul & indurietem excoquantur huius portiuncula in aqua diſſoluatur qua Hulcus abluatur.

Are theſe moſt excellent remedies?

They are, and yet there are more excellent in account, which are not raſhly to be publiſhed to all, for all kind of Vlcers may be cured with potions.

You are a marueillous Artſman: you will not communicate your ſecrets to others, that you may be rich your ſelf I know.

But I pray tell me what auaileth in the procuring of a Cycatriſe?

Ad cicat. Pruocat.Let the place be firſt waſhed with the water of Plantin, Roſh, or Roch Alome, with a little Mel Roſarum: Afterwards vſe of the medicine which is made ex Minii. ℥ j olei Roſarum & Mirthini, An, ℥ js̄. This is of Vigos deſcription.

NOw it remaineth that we intreat of Fiſtulaes.

It is ſo: know therefore that the Fiſtula is a deepe and hollow Vlcer, indurated with a ſtrict and narrow Orific,Methodes ad Fiſtulas curandas. which requireth exerciſe or handy operation, and not the Phyſitions help.

Haue you any experiments againſt the Fiſtula?

Trulie I haue, and that good ſtore.

Then teach me with what remedies this euill is taken away?

I will ſhew you what thinges are required of the Chirurgian, but know that ſuch things as are deliuered of Vigo, belong to Phyſitions, and not ſo much to Chirurgians for, this buſineſſe may be diſpatched without inciſion.

Then what remedies muſt we vſe?

Decoctions and reaſonable diet, which take away the cauſe, whereof Fiſtulaes doe proceed, for I haue ſeene many well cured by theſe means only.

Ought there not any Emplaiſters to be applyed?

Yes: Vnguent de Tutia, drawne on Leather, or on linnen cloath, which alſo muſt be often in the day wiped.

What Decoction, and what Diet ſhall it be which the Patient is to vſe?

It is not heer to be ſpoken of, for theſe and ſuch like are to be ſought for in the other part of medicine, namely to ſuch as belong to Phiſicke and diet.

You ſtill keepe your old cuſtome, you conceale that which are ſaid to be ignorant to the Logicians: but tell mee, may not the Fiſtula be cured by Topycall Remedie.

It may, as ſome affirme, but I haue no experience thereof.

What is your experience?

Recip. Olei Martis, Ol. Vitrioli. an. ʒ j Olei Mercurii, ℈ j s̄.

Miſce his Plinnaceoli infundantur, & poſt infuſionem exſiccati, Fiſtula imponantur caloſitatem enim ſtatim auferint.

I demaund not theſe Chimicall thinges, which arē not to be gotten without great coſt, tell me ſome other.

Recip. Oleii Laterini, ℥ iij. Olei Terebinth. l. s̄. Olei Gariophilorum. ℥ j s̄. Thuris Maſticis. an. ℥ s̄ Mirrha, an. ℥ s̄ Mumia. ℥ iij.

Diſtillentur, & Oleum inde diſtillatum per ſiringam. quotidie bis iniiciatur, & cauicas vino vel aqua ſalis ſubinde eluatur.

Thy remedies are hard to be prepared.

Therfore thoſe remedies are beſt to bee vſed, which in this euill are infallible.

NOw ſir, let vs to the Scabbes, what kind of remedies haue you againſt the ſame?

Reci. Succi, Chelidonie, Fume terra Boraginis ſcabioſa, Lapacii acuta. an. ℥ iij

Cum feari aceti & Anxungia vetteri miſceantur, with the which the part infected is to be annointed.

Be all kind of Scabbes to bee cured by this kind of remedie?

What think you of Vnguents againſt ſcabbes, ſet down of Vigo in his Antidatorie?

For that they are compounded of Quickſiluer, they are not to be vſed, but reiected, for they are not applyed without hurt to ſuch bodies wher they are vſed.

Doe you know any other Vnguent, which is not compounded of ioyces, which I may come by in the winter time

I doe; Recip. Butyri recentis. Anxungia, ℥ s̄. Litargirii, an. ʒ j Cesuſa, an. ʒ j Zinziberis, ʒ j Sulphuris. ʒ s̄. Helebori nigri, Puluerſat. ʒ iij Aceti, ℥ j s̄.

Miſceantur & coquantur ad forinum Vngnent.

HOw are thoſe burnings cured, which commeth of fire, milke, Oyle, butter, and ſuch like.

Butyri recentis, liquifacti calid. quantum ſufficit, aqua infundatur & agitetur, donce niuis inſtar albeſcat & tandem aqua abiiciatur, & ſeruetur ad vſum in formam vnguent. With this lineamēt thou ſhal often annoint the part infected, and alwaies be carefull to keep the place moiſt with Butter, neither ſhall ye ſuffer the part infected to drie, before the heat be extinguiſhed.

Haue you anie other like to this?

I haue: Recip. Corticis Tiliae interiores in aqua fontana macerentur, & fiat vnguentum. Let this be continually applyed vnto the burnt place: but if the place through burning be exulcerate, proceed according as we haue ſpoken before of Vlcers.

Trulie this method of yours is verie eaſie,

LEt vs come I pray you to the Oyle of holy wood, which as it is ſaid, hath a maruellous facultie in Vlcers.

I am content, for that cannot be omitted without great offence, which wee knowe to doe much good in a common weale.

Doe you ſuppoſe that this Oyle is the beſt Antidote to heale Vlcers?

This ought not to be doubted of any man, and chiefly to thoſe Vlcers which haue their originall of the Spaniſh, or if you had rather, of the French Poxe.

That is leaſt of all true: For the Oyle of holy wood is more effectuous, and hee is holpen more eaſily, ſo that it be well prepared of the Chimiſts, and the naturall collour not eqanged into a fierie, by reaſon of an immoderate heat.

And are there certain degrees of fire to be kept in diſtillation becauſe we muſt not run hither and thither.

There are truly: for otherwiſe his nature that is diſtilled ſhould be corrupted: for as all things are not hot in the ſame degrees, but either drie, cold, or moiſt, ſo likewiſe diuers degrees of fire are to be obſerued in diſtillations, for that both the nature of the hearb, and the diuerſities of the operation requireth it.

Trulie I would heare of you the whole matter, for it ſeemeth to me that no man ought to be ignorant of the work

You ſay true: but the handling hereof would require a great volume, if we ſhould ſet it down according to the worthineſſe thereof: heer it ſuffiſeth vs to ſhewe in what degree the fire ought to be kept, whiles we draw the oyle out of the wood Guiacum, or holie wood.

Well ſayd: For he which doth declare any thing particularlie, it is more eaſily vnderſtood of the Reader, then he which doeth it generallie, eſpeciallie in ſuch varietie of diſtillations, and degrees thereof: Goe to therefore, tell mee how the Oyle of this wood is called holie, is it becauſe of his efficacie.

Theſe things are eaſie to be done, but how muſt the reſt of the worke be accompliſhed.

Then the retort muſt be filled with Guiacum, being ſmal cut almoſt to the necke.

And this is eaſie?

Being fild and luted (as we haue ſaid) we ſet it in the furnace following. So that the necke of the Retort bee left out three handfulles emptie, and ſo to bee let into the pipe that paſſeth through the water.

I wold to God Paracelſus himſelf had declared his works with ſo eaſie a method: there would be found more Paracelſians than Galeniſts: but what followeth?

Both the Orifiſts and the neck of the retort with the pipe are to be luted with clay on both ſides, the bredth of an inch, leaſt the ſpirites breath out whiles it is diſtilling: For the Spirits, becauſe they are deliuered from their bodies, doe eaſilie flie, therefore the veſſels and all the chinkes ought to be well fenced with the Lute of wiſedome.

Theſe things haue no difficultie at all as I think.

Well ſaid: it hath no difficultie, but the operation is ſomewhat harde, but if thou art deſirous to practiſe, firſt make a furnace with a veſſell full of cold water.

It is true: Therfore after all things be finiſhed acording to that order which we haue ſpoken of principally, it is to be wrought with a gentle fire, leaſt that veſſel hauing the forme of a teſticle breake.

Muſt we then diſpatch the buſineſſe with a gentle fire?

No trulie: but you muſt increaſe the fire with degrees, that is to ſay, by litle and litle, vntil ye ſee the oyle and the water to diſtill into the receiuer.

How long ſhall the Oyle diſtill?

I know not that! but know this, when it can diſtill no more then leaue off working, for it is a token of no more moiſture and ſpirits in the bodie of the Guyacum.

Is the Oyle of the Guyacum therefore diſtilled then?

It is truly: but yet doth it want other preparations.

What are they, I pray you?

Firſt of all, that which is found in the Receyuer, both water and oyle, they muſt be afterwards ſeperated

How muſt they be ſeperated?

Becauſe the Oyle doth pierce to the bottome, and is blacke like Pitch, the water muſt bee poured foorth by little and litle.

Doth this water containe in it any faculty?

Yea trulie: but we will omit it here, and wee will haue nothing but the Oyle it ſelfe.

But tell me, what muſt we doe with the Oyle ſeperated from the water?

The Oyle is to be put into another Cucurbita and a little water is to be poured vnto it:

What kind of head or receiuer muſt be put vnto it? one with a ſnowt or beake, as we haue ſpoken of, or any other

Euery kind of Limbecke is not conuenient for this work, therfore that is the moſt apteſt, that which is called a Vapour, becauſe it containeth in his vpper part colde water.

Wherefore is it ſo?

Becauſe with the cooling of the head & ſnowt, the Oyle is kept downe, and ſo falleth into the bottom of the Cucurbita, from whence it aſcendeth not:

How long ſhall we diſtill?

So long as you ſee any thing diſtill into the Receiuer.

What muſt we doe afterwards?

That which is in the receiuer you may reſerue to your ſelfe if you wil, for the oyle lieth in the bottom of the Cucurbita:

How is the oyle taken out of the Cucurbita?

After the veſſell is cooled, it muſt be opened, and the water which you find in the veſſell muſt bee ſeperated from the oyle by a leaſurely pouring out, leaſt any of the Oyle paſſe therewith:

Is the oyle then perfect, being ſeperated from the water, doth it need no other preparation?

As yet it hath not his perfection: Moreouer, we haue need of another metamorphoſis that we be not fruſtrat of hope:

I pray you what metamorphoſis is this?

This Oyle which is ſeperated from the water, is to be put into a Cucurbita of glaſſe.

Muſt we then diſtill it a third time, I feare me leaſt the diſtillation ſo many times repeated, will marre the nature of the Oyle:

Why ſhould it marre it: Nay rather, feare leaſt the Doues flie out from their open neſts.

Muſt we then diſtill it in a braſen Inſtrument, on the which the Vapor is ouerluted?

We muſt haue another inſtrument, as I haue ſaid, for the Oyle muſt runne into a glaſſe Cucurbita, or rather a Receiuer.

There muſt be alſo a glaſſen Limbecke luted ouer.

Well, one glaſſe in another aptly agreeing.

And this Cucurbita muſt bee ſet in a veſſel of Sand, fit for the Lembick, in the firſt degree of heat.

Will it then diſtill?

Doe you aſke whether it will diſtill: Yes truly, you ſhall ſee Oyle as red as bloud in the Receiuer, which is of ſuch facultie that nothing can goe beyond it.

How long muſt we diſtil?

So long vntill no more wil come foorth.

Are the Fecis that are left in the bottome after diſtillation profitable?

They are truly: but they require to be mingled, and before mingling to be rectified in Horſe-dung: of which matter, ſeeing the operation is ſomewhat difficult, I purpoſe not here to ſpeake of it, let our Oyle ſuffiſe you, whoſe facultie, how great it is, experience ſhall tell you, for good marchandize needeth no praiſe.

VVHat think you of the Oyle of Waxe, is there great difficultie in the preparing of it?

Do you not perceiue ſuch difficulty as ſome ſuppoſe?

I pray you teach me how it is made of the chirurgiā.

Before all things the Waxe muſt be prepared, for this part being omitted as the chiefeſt, no oyle is drawn from the Waxe.

Amongſt all other preparations, this is one of the beſt: Four or fiue pounds of Virgin wax broken into ſixe or ſeuen peces, muſt be put into the Cucurbita, to the which muſt be poured three pettes of Malmſey wine.

What afterwards?

The Vapor being ouerluted, and the fire ſo to be tempered leaſt the waxe flow ouer, as it is a boyling.

In what degree of heat muſt it be then.

In the ſecond: neuertheleſſe, if you ſee a little of the Waxe togither with the wine in like maner to diſtill euer, you may not thinke therfore that you haue erred, for this Waxe after the Cucurbita it luted, may bee mingled againe.

The veſſell being well fitted, how is the operation to be expected?

That muſt be done by the help of Vulcan, that the waxe with the wine may boyle in the Cucurbita.

What doth this Ebrilution profit: or whereunto ſerueth it?

It ſerueth that in the boyling, the ſpirit of the Wine with the waxe by little and little doth diſtill.

Ought this diſtillation to be often repeated?

Yea, often therfore, that the waxe may be wel prepared, after that we haue of this diſtilled wine one pynt, then we poure it againe vpon the waxe through a pipe from the one ſide: and leaſt any ſhould euaporate, we ſtop it cloſe.

What if the Waxe ſticke vnto th pipe of the Limbecke?

It muſt be drawne forth by litle and litle otherwiſe the beak would be ſtopped vp.

What afterwards?

Secondarily, the diſtillation hereof ought to be renued, and eye pinte of the diſtilled wine (as before) muſt be poured in againe through a wide pipe, and worke it together twelue howres that there may be a certaine recipricall Diſtillation and powring foorth.

And what muſt we doe after twelue howers?

The diſtillation being repeated, you ſhal gather the ſpirit of the wine and waxe: this ſpirit you muſt reſerue, for it muſt be mingled with the Oyle of Waxe, as afterward ſhall be taught.

Is the waxe then ſufficiently prepated with theſe abſolute things?

Not ſo: but after many diſtillations, the Cucurbita is to bee opened, and the Waxe muſt bee ſepeeated from the Flegme to which it is mingled.

How muſt that be done I pray you?

Only preſſing it downe with your handes.

You ſay well: for with preſſing downe the waxe, the moyſture is taken away.

Then this Waxe being ſeperated from his Flegme, muſt be put into the Cucurbita, from whence it was taken, and afterwards is to be molten at a gentle fire, and wrought with a Spatula ſo long till it aſcende no more, and that there come no ſmoke from it, or hath no more froth vpon it.

Are theſe ſure tokens wherby we may know that the waxe is ſufficiently prepared.

Yea doubtleſſe, and all theſe things are wel to be bept in memorie, the diſtillations & pouring foorth by courſe the preſſing out of the Flegmes, the boyling and working of the Waxe, vntill we ſee theſe tokens now ſpoken of, but if all things be done as it ought to bee, we ſhall eaſily drawe out the Oile of Waxe.

THe Waxe being ſufficiently prepared, how afterwardes ſhall we diſtill the Oyle?

How is that Lute made?

With clay, with Fullers hayre, with whites of Egges and ſand.

After the Retort is luted, with his necke and pipe, what muſt we doe?

It muſt be placed in the furnace, begin your work firſt with a gentle fire, by the ſpace of one whole houre.

And how muſt we proceed afterwards?

The fire muſt be encreaſed by degrees, vntill ſuch time that all the ſubſtance be come foorth into the receiuer, which will be ſomewhat groſſe, but neuertheleſſe of moſt excellent efficacie.

Will not the oyle then be cleare after the order of Turpentine?

No, it will not: but it will be congealed: for to haue it cleare would require an often diſtillation, and cauſe the oyle to be of a more hotter operation and ſharper.

Tell me the vertue of this oyle, and how it ought to be applyed?

It is moſt excellent in al wounds & Vlcers whatſoeuer, if it be rightly applyed, beſides it may be miniſtred inwardly for diuers deſeaſes, as occaſion ſhal be offered.

Haue we now finiſhed our diſcourſe in euerie reſpect, as may be neceſſarie for a Chirurgian.

We haue for this time, vntil it pleaſe God to cauſe vs to meet againe.

I pray you then make a briefe repetition of ſuch conferences as hath paſt between vs ſince our firſt meeting.

Moſt willingly: for it ſhal be moſt neceſſary for the refreſhing of both our memories.

I thank you: I ſhal be a debtor vnto you for your courteſie.

You haue ſatiſfied me of al things that I can bethinke me worthy the aſking, only I am to requeſt you to ſet me downe ſome receipts, wherof you make good accompt, which may be as a ſupply for the breuitie we haue vſed in our conferences,

Indeed, in many places of our talk I omitted the rehearſal of diuers medicines, which of purpoſe I did to bring them in together at the end: which ſhal ſerue as an Antydotarie for you to reſort vnto, when as occaſion ſhal require.