CHAPTER I.
Prevention of mischiefe by Poysons eaten or drunke.

DIverse Physicke Au­thors haue inven­ted various rules to prevent Poy­soning, by suspe­cting their food and company: But those are all false lights, and uncertaine; poy­soning [Page 2] the minde many times with causlesse jealousies, till the passions breake out into sore af­flictions of ones owne selfe, and contagious infections of some others purer reputations. There­fore (that I may be no abettor of other mens errors) my counsell shall be; First, and principally to relie upon the provident mer­cy of GOD to watch over and keepe us; And in the second place, to rest upon the use of good Antidotes onely. Such as are,Common Antidotes. Mithridate, Andromachus or London-Treacle, Confectio Al­kermes, and Confectio Liberans. These are alwayes ready in eve­ry well furnished Apothecaries shop.

Of any of which, you may take every morning fasting the quantitie of a Hasell nut: and that [Page 3] either simply by themselues, or else in some Broth, or Posset drinke: or, if your stomacke through coldnesse and ill dige­stion require it, in white Wine sweetned with a little Sugar. Or els use the plaine, but anciently applauded Antidote.

Take two Walnuts, Mithri­dates An­tidote. two Figs cut in two, twenty leaues of Rue, and a little Salt. Beate all together in a Morter to a pulp, and eate it in the morning fasting. In prayse of which these Verses were written.

Take of Walnut kernells two parts, Another way. dryed Figs and Salt, of each 5. parts, and of dryed Rue twentie parts. Of which Rhasis saith that it will make one vomit up any unwhol­som food received that day af­ter it.

You may also apply this Out­ward Medicine, which is an ap­proved one.

Take halfe a halfepeny loafe new­ly drawne out of the Oven, make it hollow in the middle of the crummy side, and fill it with Treacle and Vineger, while it is hot apply and tie it to the Navill. It both preser­veth the body; and draweth out the venom (if any be within) be it of what kinde soever. I haue an excellent Antidote of mine owne, The Au­thors An­tidote. if any will be pleased to come to mee for it.

CHAPTER II.
A generall way of Curing such as are hurt by inward Poysons.

IF any be Poysoned,How to know if one be poyso­ned or no. Aëtius (Tetrab. 4. Serm. 1. cap. 47.) saith it wil appeare by these signes.

Not long after the taking of it, there will come either a suddain coughing, or vomiting of blou­dy and stinking stuffe, or trouble in making water, or some paine within the body, or vehement heat, or gnawings within the stomacke or guts, or els some suddain numbnesse: also prick­ings in the flesh, trembling of the limbs, Hicket or Yex, Con­vulsions or Cramps; breakings out of the skin into blisters, biles [Page 6] or scabs; filthy spots, or foule and unnatural colour of the skin; swelling either all over, or els of some part of the body; streit­nesse of breath, much filthy vo­miting, and in those vomits som­times the very plain appearance of some part of the Poyson. If any of these (saith he) happen to a healthy man suddainly upon his meate, this man is to be jud­ged infected with Poyson.

And then must this course fol­lowing be observed.

First, you must endevour to fetch the Poyson out by the same way it was taken in. As, if it were eaten, or drunke; by vo­mit: If in a Glyster or Suppositorie; by a Glyster againe it must be pur­ged out. If by a Fume, by a cor­diall Perfume it must be encoun­tered, and conquered. If by the [Page 7] mouth it were received, whatso­ever kind of Poyson it be, before it be digested further than the stomacke (if it may be time e­nough found) giue the partie a great draught of some fat broth; or Oyle and childs urine;Vomits. or els Sweet Butter and Water, with two or three spoonfulls of the juice of Radish roots in it. Giue one of these bloud-warme, to make him vomit. If the first vo­mit fayle, giue the second, and so the third if the second fayle. And if they worke not of them­selues quickly, provoke them further by putting the finger in­to his throat, or a feather dipped in ranke Oyle, or in Oyle of Lin­seed.

But if it haue gottē into the guts (which will appeare by the gna­wings and gripings) giue him a [Page 8] sharpe Glyster. As

Take Mallows,A Glyster. Violet leaues, Mer­curie, Beets, of each a handfull; Aniseeds, Fenell-seeds, Caraway­seeds, of each a spoonfull bruised; the flowers of Violets, Bugloss, Borrage, Damask Roses, and Ca­momill, of each halfe a handfull. Boyle all well in a sufficient quan­titie of fayre Water. Then strayn it; and to three quarters of a pint of the liquor, put an ounce of Diacatholicon,These Pur­ging Medi­cins may be had at the Apotheca­ries. and three drams of Diacolocynthis. Three ounces of Honey and a knifes poynt-full of Salt. Mix all together, and giue it Lukewarme.

And if, while it is yet in the stomacke, a vomit or two, or at the most three bring not away the Poyson (which will appeare by the ease the partie receiveth) then giue him a strong Purgation, [Page 9] such as this:

Take of Mallowes,A Purging Potion. Violet leaues, of each one handfull. The flowers of Violets, Borrage, Bugloss, Da­mask Roses, of each halfe a hand­full. Aniseeds, and fenell seeds bruised, of each halfe a spoonfull. Liquorice scraped and sliced a quarter of an ounce. Boyle all together in a sufficient quan­titie of halfe Water halfe white wine. Then having strayned it, Take a quarter of a pint of the liquor; to which put Hiera of Coloquintida and Diacatholico, of each three drams; Syrup of Ro­ses solutiue, and Syrup of Worm­wood, of each halfe an ounce, or a little spoonfull. Mixe all well together, and giue it as a Purga­tion.

Those that are of good abilitie may haue this Masse of Pils made [Page 10] by some skilfull Apothecary for them, to keepe by them against a time of need.

Take at once the weight of six pence or nine pence, as need requi­reth; being formed and rowled into Pills of a fit bignesse for the Patient to swallow.

If it be a Childe,A Gentle Potion for weak ones. or a weake body; make a quarter of a pint of plaine Posset-ale, wherein is boyled a few sweet Fenell seeds [Page 11] bruised: adding to it an ounce of the blacke pulp of Cassia fistu­la. Mixe all well together, and let the partie drinke it off.

If there be torments in the guts,A milde Glyster. this may be given in way of a Glister also, adding onely some course Sugar.

In this case likewise, when the venom appeareth much and vi­olent, you must giue a Glyster be­sides the Purgation; yea Glyster upon Glyster, as soone as one cea­seth to worke giving another, (though they be twēty in a day) till all complaints cease. That is, till neither evill taste, smell, vo­mitings, or gripings within the body remaine, to shew that any reliques of the venom are yet left.

If the stomacke and guts com­plaine of a burning heat;Note. to qua­lifie [Page 12] the stomacke, drinke Posset-Ale boyled with sweet Fenell­seeds, and mixed with Cassia, as before-said: and for the guts, this Suppositorie following.

Take of Hiera of Coloquintida ij. A Supposi­torie. drams: a little Salt, and a suffi­cient quantitie of Honey. He ate them together softly on the fire, till the lump come to a sufficient hardnesse; then rowle it up in forme of a Suppositorie, and an­noynting it with Sallet-oyle, or sweet-Butter, administer it.

Now,VVhat is to be done af­ter Purg­ing. when by Vomits, Gly­sters, Suppositories, and other Pur­ging Medicines before described, the venemous matter appeareth drawn away; in that the body feeleth no more of those tor­ments and troubles it was before afflicted with: then let the partie drinke a draught of warme milke [Page 13] mixed with Honey. And if sharp Glysters haue been often used be­fore, let him take also one Glyster of milke and Honey; or of some fat broth to wash away the re­liques of the sharpnesse and bi­ting qualitie left in the guts and stomacke.

In the meane time, to defend the braine, heart, and liver from infection of the venemous va­pours that will hasten to those noble parts;A Plaster. Take Conserue of Bar­rage-flowers, Mithridate, and London-Treacle, of each a like quantitie: Mixe them well to­gether, and spread all thicke upon a peice of Leather of a hand-breadth every way, and lay it well warmed betwixt the Paps.

Take also, A Fomen­tation. of Red Roses three hand­fulls; Sage, Betony, Rosemarie­tops, [Page 14] Rue, Wormwood, of each a handfull; Tormentill-roots, and Gentian-rootes, of each clensed and sliced thin, halfe a handfull. Boyle all these in a sufficient quantitie of white wine, halfe water, till a third part be boy­led away.

In this liquor dip woollen­clouts, then wring out the liquor from them, and apply one cloth reasonable hot to the mould of the head; and another all over the stomach. And when these clouts wax dry, dip them againe in the same liquor well warmed, wring them, and apply them as before.

Thus, having rid the body of all evill Accidents; you must roote out all the reliques of poy­son yet left behinde, lest they re­maining still, beget as dange­rous, [Page 15] though not so suddain or violent an issue. Therefore, then betake your selfe to Antidotes. Such as are named in the first Chapter, for Praevention; but their Dose must be doubled. In way of Cure, these also that fol­low are especially commended against all kindes of Poysons whatsoever. Viz.

The Hoofe of an Oxe cut into pa­rings, Antidotes against any kinde of Poyson. and boyled with bruised Mustard-seed in white Wine and faire Water.

The Bloud of a Malard drunke fresh and warme: or els dryed to powder, and so drunke in a draught of white Wine.

The Bloud of a Stagge also in the same manner.

The Seeds of Rue, and the leaues of Betony boyled together in white Wine. Or,

[Page 16] Take ij. Scruples (that is, fortie graines) of Mithridate; of prepared Chrystall one dram (that is, three-score graines) fresh Butter one ounce. Mixe all well together: Swallow it down by such quan­tities as you can swallow at once; and drinke presently upon it a quarter of a pint of the decoction of French Barley; or so much six shil­lings Beere. Of this I haue had happy proofe.

There is also another excellent course to be taken (besides all these) by those of abilitie,A way of Sweating described by Mathio­lus. and that is; Take a sound horse, open his belly aliue, take our all his entrayles quickly, and put the poysoned partie naked into it, all saue his head, while the body of the horse retaines his naturall heate: and there let him sweat well.

[Page 17] This may be held a strange course: but the same reason that teacheth to divide liue Pullets and Pigeons for Plague-sores, approveth this way of Sweating as most apt to draw to it selfe all poysons from the heart & prin­cipall parts of the Patients body. But during this time of Swea­ting, he must defend his braine by wearing on his head a Quilt thus made.

Take Cynnamom,A Night­cap to pre­serue the Braine. Nutmegs, Cloues, all the Saunders, of each halfe an ounce.

Roots of Angelica, Tormentill, white Dittany, and Valerian, of each one ounce.

Dryed Sage, Rosemarie, Balme, of each halfe a handfull; and of Red-Rose leaues dryed two hand­fulls. Make all these into a grosse Powder, and Quilt them up in [Page 18] Sarsnet or Calico; and let it be so big as to cover all the head like a Cap: Then binde it on fast with a kerchief.

In all this time,What Diet he is to use. the Patients dyet is not the lest to be thought upon which must be new Milke from the Cow,His meate. fresh Butter, Sal­let Oyle, fat Broths of Mutton or Veale, or of fresh Beefe. For fat things stop the vessels, & hin­der the course of the Poyson to the principall parts. In his broths also boyle these hearbs; Burnet, Buglosse, Borrage, and wilde Tyme.

He must reside in a cleare ayre,Ayre. or els haue the Ayre rectified with perfumes, and those must be temperate and milde, not too full of fume, lest they suffocate his Spirits. I need not set downe any; every one knoweth the use [Page 19] of Rose-water, Iuniper, Rosemary, Bayes, and Frankincense: Let him be ever smelling to Rosemary rub­bed in ones hand; to Iuniper -ber­ries a little bruised, Lemons stuck with Cloues, Myrrh, Storax, or Lignum Aloës.

He must sleepe little:Sleepe. for sleepe draws the venom to the center of the body; but watching driues it to the outward parts.

As for Thirst;Drinke. let him beare it as much as he can: But if it afflict past sufferance, let him drinke (now and then) new milke tur­ned with Vinegar into Posset­drinke.

CHAPTER III.
A more Particular way of Cure; wherein is touched the eating of Mushroms, Muskles, and Perewinckles.

THough I intend not to discover the particular nature of every Poyson (which might be a way to in­struct evill minds in evill purpo­ses) yet without some distincti­on,Distinction of Poysons. I shall take much pains to lit­tle purpose. Therefore this ge­nerall difference must be made knowne; namely, that there are Poysons both Hot and Cold: and their Cures are as different as their Complexions.

Therefore,In Hot Poysons. if the Poyson taken, be hot (as will appeare by the [Page 21] Accidents that will follow; viz. Bitings, Prickings, and Gnawings within; extreame Heats, Burnings, inflamations and Hot Swellings In­ward or Outward) Then the Gly­sters must be gentle. As thus,

Take Mallows and Violet leaues, A Gentle Glyster. of each two handfulls; French Barley one handfull, Camomill-flowers halfe a handfull. Boyle them in a sufficient quantitie of faire water till the third part of the water be boyled away. Then srayne it, & to three quarters of a pint of the strayned liquor, put an ounce of Diacatholicon (or for the richer sort, an ounce of Cassia Fistula newly drawne) and three ounces of Course Sugar (or else Honey of Roses two ounces) and a little Salt.

Eate fat Broths, with coole­hearbs boyled in them,Diet. as, Bor­rage, [Page 22] Bugloss, Violet leaues; & like­wise French Barley; with juyce of Lemons, the tartnesse being taken off with Sugar or Honey; as also Sorrell so corrected.

Giue the Patient leaue to sleep,Sleepe. if he can; but enforce it not.

And for his Antidotes, Antidotes. use Mi­thridate mixed with Conserue of Ro­ses. Or els

Take of Diamargariton frigidum, one dran; of oxymel fimplex one ounce, and Carduus water three ounces. Mix them together, and let him drinke it.

In all other poynts keepe him as is taught before.

But if the Poyson be of a Cold nature,Cold Poysons. which will appeare by coldnesse within or without, or both; numbnesse, fullnesse, dul­nesse, and drouzinesse. Then use Vomits, shape Glysters, and the [Page 23] like, as are appointed in the pre­cedent Chapter.

Keepe him from Sleeping.Waking. Make him neeze often with powder of strong Tobacco blowne up into his nose with a quill:Neezing. or if the Tobacco alone will not doe it; mix a little pow­der of Euphorbium with it.

Rub his Brest,Frication. Sides, Backe, and Limbs with warme woollen Cloaths.

Speake much to him,Stirring. and en­force him to stirre his body as much as may be.Sweate.

Endevour also to make him Sweat: to which purpose you may use this Medicine follow­ing. Take one dram of Gentian­roote in fine Powder, with two or three graynes of Bezoar-stone. Giue it in a little draught of Carduus Posset-drinke made with [Page 24] white wine and a little Vineger. Giue it hot, and cover him well with cloths, ordering him so be­fore, in, and after sweating, that he take no cold; neither eate, nor drinke in fiue or six houres after.

Let his Antidotes be Androma­chus or London-Treacle. Antidotes.

With his meate,Meate and Thirst. boyle Gar­licke, Onions, Balm, and Sweet Fenel-seeds. And let him endure Thirst as long as he possibly can.

In all otherthings, order him as occasion shall serue or require, according to the prescriptions in the Chapter before.

Some,Mushroms. out of wantonnesse, and apish imitation of Strangers, haue learn'd to eate Mushroms, com­monly called Toadstools: which is an excressence of the earths superfluitie, not voyd of a veno­mous qualitie; though some are [Page 25] lesse hurtfull than others, and to some constitutions, little or no­thing at all apparantly offensiue.

I knew a Mountebank in Devon­shire, A Storie teaching the Cure. that perswaded many to the use of them; whereof two (the one a young man, and the other a woman) to the hazard of their liues were over-taken with his Cookery. To the young man, I gaue this Medicine, two drams of Hens-dung dryed and powdered; faire water, white wine, & Vine­ger, of each halfe a quarter of a pint, with halfe an ounce of Ho­ney. All mixed together he drank it, vomited, had also two stooles, and so recovered. The woman, being his mother, and seeing me use the dung, cōjured me to giue her some other Medicine that was more cleanly. Whereupon I made her go to her well warmed [Page 26] bed; & then gaue I her a draught of Posset-ale wherein Penyroy­all was boyled, to which I put a little Aqua Vitae and Salt Peter: Shee hereupon did Sweat abun­dantly, and recovered.

Others there are,Muskles & Perewinc­kles. that out of an Antipathy to their Constitutiō, are directly poysoned if they eat Muskles: others againe are in the like case with Perewinckles. I haue seene some with Muskles swelled, and spotted all over. In which case, after a Vomit, and a Glyster (such as are before de­scribed in the second Chapter) I gaue this Antidote following.

I tooke Terra Sigillata (for want of terra Lemnia, which I account the better) and Iuniper berries, of each a like quantitie; made them into fine Powder: And of this Powder I tooke the weight of [Page 27] halfe a dram, & with a sufficient quantitie of fresh Butter, made a Bolus or lump, which the Patient swallowed: and after the third time (which was done every 12. houres) he recovered. And in fiue dayes was perfectly well.

CHAPTER IIII.
Serpents or VVormes crept into the Body.

THough it happeneth ve­ry rarely;A Snake, Est, or Siowworm crept into the sto­macke. yet somtimes it hath so fortuned, that some lying asleepe on the grasse with their mouth open (as many doe sleepe so) haue had a Snake, some an Est, one had a Slow­worme crept in at his mouth in­to his Body: Any of these will much torment a man; but especi­ally the last: Because therefore, I [Page 28] haue knowne many take delight to sleepe on the grasse in the fields; and since such an accident may happen, I thought it not a­misse to teach a helpe for the same.

While it is yet in the Stomach, labour by vomiting to cast it out. If that preuayle not, Take the juice of Rue mixed with your own vrine: and drinke a draught of it: and if need require, drinke diverse of these draughts one within an houre of another.

Marcus Gatinaria commended the smoake of burnt old shooes received in at the mouth through a Funnell:A Viper. Telling of a man that had in vaine tryed many other Medicines; and with the use of this, avoyded a Viper downe­ward. This Mizaldus recordeth in Centur. 8. Num. 94.

[Page 29] Some enforced through great thirst in the heat of Summer to drink of any water next to hand,A Horse­leech. haue in their greedinesse swal­lowed a Horse-Leech; which being in the throate, and finding it selfe in a place full of such food as it loved; fell to sucking of bloud there; which must needs be a great torture to the Partie. For which Accident, I finde in Authenticall Authors these Re­medies following.

The juice of Willow leaues drunk, hath the property of vexing that creature; making him let goe his hold; and so the partie, enfor­cing himselfe to vomit, may cast it out. Assa faetida dissolued in Vineger, & the throat therewith gargled (if it be not gone downe into the stomach) will doe the like. But if it be gone downe so [Page 30] low, drinke a draught of white wine wherein Garlicke is boy­led. Or els, Take halfe a dram of Aloës Succotrina powdered in a draught of white wine or worm­wood Beere.

If an Earewig or other like crea­ture chance to get into the Eare;Earewigs. Blow the smoake of Tobacco through a pipe into the eare. Or, Take the juyces of Wormwood and Southernwood, of each a like quanti­tie; mixe them, warme them, and drop a little into the Eare.

CHAP. V.
Poysonous Humours spurting or dropping out of the woun­ded bodies of venomous cre­atures, and lighting upon a Mans bare skinne.

THus haue some been out­wardly poysoned. My [Page 31] selfe while I was a Student in Cambridge, was so hurt by the spurting of a venomous humour from the body of a great Toad into my face, while I pashed him to death with a brickbat. Some of the moysture lighted on my right eye, which did not a little endanger it, and hath made it e­ver since apt to receiue any flux of Rheume or Inflamation. O­thers I haue knowne to receiue like harme from a Spiders juice. The skin that it toucheth swel­leth and groweth red and paine­full. The mischiefe of this, may be prevented by presently wash­ing & bathing the place for halfe an houre or an houre with the juyce of Rue, and the distilled water of St. Iohns Wort, or with Plantaine water, mixed with An­dromachus-Treacle, & a drop or [Page 32] two of Oyle of Anise-seeds.

Hereunto I may add the Sting­ing & Blistering of Gnats,Blistering of Gnats, Ants, and Nettles. Ants, and Nettles.

Though no danger doth fol­low this Accident; yet we may avoyd the temporary trouble: By fomenting the place with the juyce of Lavender Cotton: or els annoynting it with Sallet Oyle and Wood ashes. Or,

Take Nettle-seeds and Anise-seeds, of each a like quantitie, bruise them, and steepe them in Sallet Oyle in a glasse with somthing a wide mouth: set it in the Sunne in Summer time for a month together. Annoynt the place with it. Oyle of Anise-seeds will doe it also.

CHAP. VI.
Certaine Generall Notions for the Helpe of such as are Stung or Bitten by venomous Beasts.

AS there are divers kindes of Creatures that sting or bite venomously;What Beasts are most veno­mous. so are the mischiefes different that breake forth from their veno­mous natures. For the Hornet hath a more venomous Sting than the Bee or Waspe. So the Biting of the Adder (which is a kinde of Viper) or of the Slow­worme (which some also call the Blind-worme) is more dange­rous, than of the Est, or Shrew­mouse.

As for the Snake;The Snake doth no harme. I know by ex­perience, that he hath neither [Page 34] sting nor tooth to offend with; though his likenes to the Adder at first sight, hath long deterred people from so neare acquain­tance, as to take notice of his in­nocencie.

Likewise the Stings and Teeth of the living Creatures are more pernicious than those of the dead:Living are more ve­nomous than dead Beasts. because natiue heate, that ministreth spirit to the venom, maketh the venomous substance more thin and subtle; as also more actiue and piercing.

Furthermore,More or lesse veno­mous by Sex; Age; the Female of e­very kinde is more fierce, and more dangerously venomous, than the Male: the young, than the old: And those that liue in rockes,Place of living. mountaines, and dry pla­ces, than they that breed in fens, moores, marishes, & such moyst grounds.

[Page 35] Moreover,Feeding. those that feed vpon other venomous Creatures, are more pernicious vpon the eating of that food; As the Adder when he hath eatē a Toad. And require stronger Antidotes and in grea­ter quantitie than others.

Also,Ingendring at the time of their en­gendering, they are more curst, and full of poyson,& than at other times.

And in Summer time,Time of the Yeare. all these are more deadly, than in Win­ter: For the venomous hidden is more deadly, than the manifest qualitie; the thin, than the thicke matter; and the hot, than the cold temperature.

To which we may adde,Aptnesse of the Body offended. the more or lesse aptnesse of disposi­tion & constitution of the body by any of these so offended. For those men or women that are of [Page 36] a hot temperament; having ma­ny and great veynes outwardly apparant, and thereupon their pores more open; are much more apt to receiue the venom euen speedily to the Liver and Heart: than those, that (being of a cold constitution) haue small veynes, and streit pores, through which the poyson hath but slow passage.

Lastly,Fasting make these Accidents the more dangerous. those that are stung or bitten while they are yet fasting, and their stomach emptie; are in more danger than they that are full fed. For when the veyns and vessels are empty, they doe gree­dily sucke in any matter that is administred; yea, though nature abhorre the qualitie, because at that time shee mindes onely the supply of quantity (as is apparent in those that are extreame thir­stie; [Page 37] for they will drinke a great draught before they regard or finde the taste) whereas those that haue fed, & filled the veynes to the satisfaction of quantitie; their vitall spirits are thereby made the more strong, and able to resist and repell the fiercenesse of the venomous qualitie.

With these few generall No­tions, I haue thought good to ac­quaint such, whose understan­dings are able to make use of them; that they may lend their helping hand to those that need them, with the more judgement and dexteritie.

CHAPTER VII.
The Generall Method of Pre­venting, and Curing all ve­nemous Stingings and Bi­tings.

PRevention is onely two wayes:Preventi­on. By having an eye to all places where they are likely to be abroad: And by driving them from the place of a mans habitation.

All venomous Creatures are driven from the house by these fumes and washings following.

Fume your roomes with the smoake of Harts-horne shavings, burnt in a chasing-dish or fire­panne: or the shavings of sheepes hoofes: or the parings of old shooes.

Wash the walls with the Gaule [Page 39] of any beast boyled a little in water: or the decoction of Rue or Wormwood: or Assa faetida: or Co­loquintida boyled in water.

But in the Cure;The first poynt of Cure. The first thing is to pluck out the Sting, if there be any: and presently after, an­noynt the place with Honey: If with that it asswage not. Mixe Mithridate with your Honey, & annoyt it againe: or Honey and Treacle of Andromachus. If the prick or wound be large enough, wash it with urine, or salted wa­ter, or sharp Vineger, or els with white wine: in any of which, dis­solue Mithridate or old Treacle of Andromachus; which being mixed together, heate it good & hot, and so wash the place well, rubbing it as hard as the patient may endure it, to draw the ve­nom from running inward.

[Page 40] Some doe presently burne the wound with a hot Needle or Bodkin:Actuall Cautery. and it is the best way, both to consume the venomous matter before it goe further, and also to keepe the orifine open, which must be so kept, till there be no likelihood of venom left in the affected part.

Vpon this burning, there will grow a crustie scab, round about which the place must be scarrifi­ed with the sharp poynt of a Pen­knife, that the corrupted bloud may haue issue. And when the scab is growne dry, you must an­noynt it with fresh Butter alone, or fresh Hogs grease mixed with it, & having so loosened it, take it off. All which time, the part must be often washed with such a mix­ture as I praescribed before: And round about the wound, over all [Page 41] the swelled part lay a Playster made of Turpentine, Wax, blacke Pitch, and Pitch of Burgundie: And into the wound put some Lint dipped in Vnguentum Basili­con, mixed with a little burnt A­lum, to keepe the wound open.

But if the hurt be in the face, the actuall Cauterie or hot yron must not be used, for feare of lea­ving a scarre and blemish in the face for ever after. Therefore in stead of that way; let some body presently sucke the wound with his mouth:Sucking of the wound. which also is very good; but it must be done with these Caveats.

First,1. Caution. the sucker must take heed he haue no sore, blister, nor raw­nesse in any part of his mouth, tongue, gummes, throat, or lips; for then he endangereth him­selfe, by sucking venomous mat­ter [Page 42] into places prepared to enter­taine the infection of it.

Secondly,2 before he sucke, he must wash his mouth, first three or foure times with white wine wherein Mithridate or old An­dromachus Treacle is dissolved; and after, with sallet-Oyle.

Thirdly,3 he must be carefull, that he presently spit out all that he sucketh into his mouth, and let none of it goe downe his throat: least while he physicke another, he poyson himselfe.

Lastly,4 when he hath sucked out all the venom; let him againe wash his mouth three or foure times with the like washing, as before he sucked. And to con­clude, let him drinke a little draught of the same, to prevent all evill chances.

But if no man will venture thus [Page 43] to sucke:Applicati­on of Pul­lets. Take a Pullet or Cocke­rell, bare his rump, and rub the fundament well with Salt; then hold it close to the wound, hol­ding his beake closed with your hand, and giving him breath but now and then, onely to keepe him aliue; and his fundament will draw out the venom. If one die, take another; and so conti­nue till one of the creatures out­liue the labour. Then may you bee sure the venom is cleane drawne out.

Some apply Horseleeches to the wound, if it be very small. But sometimes it is so big, (as when an Adder or Slow-worme hath entred many teeth; or when a mad dog hath made it) that the fundament of such a creature be­fore named cannot compasse it. Then take a Pullet or a Pigeon, [Page 44] and divide it aliue, and apply it (while it is full of lifes heat) up­on the wounded and grieved place (which must be scarrified beforehand) that the vitall heate of that creature may draw the venom through the scarificati­ons. Let it be therefore bound on, and kept there, till it be even cold; and then apply another, and so another; till (by asswaging of all paines, and swelling with­out, as also by the quietnesse and quicknesse of the spirits within) the patient appeare freed from all poyson us offence. Then apply Garlicke fryed with sweet Butter or sallet Oyle: to make sure that no remainder of mis­chiefe be behinde: for it is an ex­cellent outward Medicine a­gainst all both Stingings and Bi­tings that are venomous.

[Page 45] When all this is done, and now it is sure that all the venom is per­fectly drawn forth; If the wound be big,How to heale the wound. it must be healed up with some good Balsam as a greene wound. But if it be but a pricke, it will soone heale it selfe, so it be but kept from the ayre.

But besides these outward Helpes, the Patient must taken in­ward Antidotes also. And of such I haue spoken in the first Chapter. This is sufficient for the generall course; Now wee must come to a more particular way of Cure.

CHAP. VIII.
Stingings of Hornets, Bees, and Wasps.

SOmetimes these creatures leaue not their sting in the [Page 46] place, but when they doe, the first course is to picke it out: And then, if it be a Hornet, as it is the more dangerous, so there must be the more care had of it.

If the Sting will not easily be gotten out,Stinging of Hornets. lay to it a poultis made of leaven, wood-ashes, and sallet Oyle mixed together. Or bath it with Childes urine good and hot. And when it is out, wash the wound with a little water & salt mixed with the juice of Rue. Then burne it, or els sucke it as was sayd before: and after that, apply to it a little lint dipped in old Andromachus Treacle mixed with Honey; and over it, as also over all the swelling, lay a poul­tis made of fresh Cow-dung mixed with Barrowes grease, or sallet Oyle.

Bees,Of Bees & Wasps. and Wasps, though they [Page 47] seldome endanger life, yet they swell and enflame the part stung by them, and cause a great deale of paine, which somtimes is fol­lowed by a Feavor; therefore it is necessary to find a Cure for it. And some constitutions receiue also deadly mischiefe by such stinging. As some thirtie yeares agoe appeared by the Lady Wal­singham, wife to Sir Francis Wal­singham Secretarie to Queene Eli­zabeth: who (as I haue often heard it related by my Father, who was her Physition) being stung in the hand by a Wasp at dinner time; the venom present­ly swelled up all her arme to her shoulder, and thence to her throat: that, had not speedie meanes beene used, and (as God would) her Physition bin there present, it was thought, snee [Page 48] would haue dyed within lesse than an houre.

First therefore, the Sting is to be taken out, as is said, and pre­sently the place to be annoynted with Honey, and covered from the ayre. If this prevaile not (as with the most it doth) burne it, or sucke it: and applie Treacle of Andromachus or Mithridate mix­ed with Honey. Or, for the poo­rer sort, fresh Cow-dung or dogs dung mixed with sallet Oyle. And, if need be, giue the partie some inward Antidore; such as haue beene before commended. Or els for present speed, Take Garlicke boyled in white wine, or strong ale. Or els, the seeds and roots of Lillies boyled in Beere. Or the seeds of Mallowes boyled in water, and white wine, with a little Vine­ger.

[Page 49] Not long agoe I saw a young man stung in the eye-ball with a Bee,Stinging in the Eye-ball. while he was too closely looking into the doore of the hiue: But the Bee left not her sting there. Vpon the place, I applyed this Playster. I tooke a handfull of Carduus benedictus new­ly gathered, pounded it in a morter very fine, and mixed it with the white of an egge, so spreading it upon a pledget of flaxe, I laid it to the eye, and as it waxed dry, renued it twice. This Playster of Carduus is excel­lent to recover the eye if any venomous juice be spurted into it, or if the eye be hurt by a cor­rupt ayre, which the common people call blasting: It easeth paines; taketh away bloudy spots in the eyes; and is good for all burnings in, or about the eyes.

[Page 50] To this,Bitings of Spiders. let me adde the bi­tings of Spiders; the garden ones are the worst: for they are of the kinde of Phalangiae. The Inward Antidote for them, is, a draught of New milke, wherein the inner meate of River Crabs is boyled. Or, a spoonfull of the braines of a sheepe boyled in water and Vineger. Out­wardly, apply the Cobweb of the same Spider, binding it on with a fine linnen rag.

CHAP. IX.
Bitings of Adders, Slow­wormes, Efts, the Shrew-Mouse, and other such ve­nomous Beasts.

REmembring what I sayd before in the sixt Chap­ter,Bitings of Adders, Slow­worms, or Efts. to begin the Cure. [Page 51] The flesh of the same beast that biteth, boyled, or rosted, as they dresse Eeles, and inwardly taken, helpeth much. Or a dram of Gentian root powdered & drunke in a little draught of white wine. Or halfe a dram of Terta Sigillata in the same kinde of wine. Or els the same wine with Opoponax and Aristolochia rotunds.

Outwardly, the best thing to be applied is the flesh of the same beast that did the hurt, pounded in a morter, and applied in man­ner of a Poultis. Or a Poultis made of Cocks-dung and Vine­ger. Or an old Walnut beaten with Salt, an Onion, and a little Honey, and applied. Or take Peny-royall and Fenell, of each a like quantitie, boyle them in water and white wine, & bathe the place with the liquor. Or els [Page 52] drop into the wound the liquor that sweateth out of the greene ashen wood while it burneth on the fire. Or Oyle of Bay and oyle of St. Iohns Wort, of each a like quantitie. Or els a little Tarre mixed with a little salt spread on a peice of Leather, and applyed playster-wise. This is for the Ad­der, Slow-worme, or Eft.

Now the Shrew-mouse is a lit­tle kinde of mouse with a long sharpe snout,Bitings of the Shrew-Mouse. and a short tayle; It liveth commonly in old rui­nous walls: It biteth also very venomously, and leaveth foure small perforations, made by her foure foreteeth; To cure her bi­ting; her flesh roasted and eaten is the best inward Antidote, if it may be had. Otherwise, a dram of the seeds of Agnus Castus bea­ten and steeped in white Wine. [Page 53] Or els some of the other Anti­dotes described at the beginning of this Booke. And outwardly, apply her warme liver and skin, if it may be had. Otherwise Roc­ket-seeds beaten into powder, and mixed with the bloud of a Dog. Or els the teeth of a dead man made into fine powder.

CHAP. X.
The Biting of a Madde Dogge.

ALthough in this our coun­trey of England, I haue neither seene nor heard of any such terrible dangers hap­pening to people by a mad-dogs biting, as in other Regions: yet I haue seene Dogs mad. But the care that hath been used for pre­vention, hath perhaps hindred the sight of those Accidents [Page 54] which old Authors haue so la­boriously Commented upon. And besides that, the tempera­ture of our Climate keepeth the Dogges of our Countrey from prooving altogether so pernici­ous as in Graecia and Arabia. For Aëtius saith that the mad Dogs are worst in intemperate Cli­mates, where the Winters cold & Summers heate are extreame. Tetr. 2. Serm. 2. cap. 24. Howso­ever, I will set downe a briefe course of helpe, to prevent, the incurablenesse of the mischiefe; as I haue it from the best Au­thors.

This kinde of madnesse pro­ceedeth from blacke Cholerick juices wherewith a dogge more than other Beasts aboundeth.The cause of a Dogs Madnesse. For he is of temperament hot and drie; as appeareth by many [Page 55] proofes. As first, by his conti­nuall eager appetite (being al­wayes hungry) and greedinesse in devouring any filthy offalls; Flesh putrified, stinking, and full of Maggots; whether it be raw, & perhaps buried under ground; or any other way rotten and in­fectious. Also they will drinke of any durtie puddle, or stinking ditch-water: which kinde of drinke wondrously encreaseth blacke choler. And besides this, at two seasons of the yeare espe­cially are Dogges most subject to madnesse; which is the surest of all arguments: namely, in the height of Summer, and in the depth of Winter. By Summers fervencie their bloud being o­ver-heated, turneth into burnt choller: And through Winters extreame cold, the same bloud [Page 56] is per Antiperistasin, so much en­flamed, that it becommeth burnt Melancholy.

You shall know a Dog to be madde,The Signes that a Dog is madde. by these signes. He is affraid of Water, and at the sight of it, trembles and bristles vp his necke; his eyes are fiery and gla­ring; he runnes to and from, and reels this way and that way, like one that is drunke; hee holds downe his head, gapes with his mouth, lils out his tongue (which is blackish, or evill coloured) sla­vers at the mouth, and his nose runneth: he snaps and bites at e­very thing in his way, but barkes not at all; he couches his eares, carries his tayle betwixt this legs. Other Dogs (though bigger than he) flie from him at the smell of him. He takes no notice of any friend, neither spareth to bite [Page 57] his owne Master: and being gone out of the house, never repayreth backe againe to it (unlesse by chance) for he knoweth no place aright.

Whosoever therefore is bitten by such a Dog, must presently be looked to. And if the Dog that hath bitten, haue passed by so suddainly, that sufficient notice could not be taken of him: Then dip a little bread in the bloud of the wound, and offer it to some other Dog that is not madde; and if he refuse to eate it: there is cause of suspition.

Or take a Wallnut-kernell pil­led, beat it in a morter, then steep it in the bloud of the wound; and giue it to some Poultry mix­ed with their meate. If they die the day after, it is counted a sure signe that that biting was of a Madde Dogge.

[Page 58] The partie so bitten findes no alteration in himselfe for diverse dayes after.The Symp­toms or Accidents that follow such Bi­tings. For this biting is no more painful than as a wound, nor doth any such swellings or other Symptoms follow present­ly vpon it; as in the bitings of Serpents. But after some time, the bitten partie begins to grow melancholy; and to haue strange & unwonted fancies in his mind, talkes to himselfe, and useth foo­lish gestures: for now the power of the poyson having crept up into the braine, corrupteth the i­magination. His sleeps are bro­ken with terrors; and he leaues all company, choosing out soli­tary walkes. If till this time there could be no certain knowledge. Now it is high time to begin a speedy helpe.Incurable.

For when once he comes to [Page 59] barke like a Dogge, to hate the light, and sight of all shining me­talls and looking-glasses; as also to feare water, & all other kindes of liquors (which Symptoms at last doth follow such bitings hi­therto uncured) he is held to be past cure.Curable. But so long as he kno­weth his owne face in a glasse, and is not frighted at it: or may be drawne to drinke water; he is (by Avicen and others) accoun­ted curable.

As soone therefore as any one upō these signes suspecteth him­selfe bitten by a Madde Dogge, let him presētly repayre to some learned Physition, or at least to some well experienced Chirur­gion (for such extraordinary ca­ses are beyond ordinary skills) if such may be had. Otherwise let some discreet man read care­fully [Page 60] this Treatise, and ponder the method very diligently; e­specially this Chapter, which teacheth thus to begin the Cure.

Labour forthwith to draw the contagion out of the wound by cupping-glasses; application of Pullets or Pigeons that lay eggs, scarifications, Leeches, & draw­ing medicines;Reade the 7. Chap. as in the 7. Chap. I haue discoursed. If the wound be so small that it bleedeth not; scarifie the place, and with a cup­ping-glasse draw out the bloud; or burne it with an hot iron, or els (if the patient will not endure the hot iron or actuall cautery) apply a potentiall cautery, or an eating Medicine; as Sublimate mixed with some cold thing, that it may be lesse painfull: as for example.

Take of Sublimate two drams, An excel­lent Cau­sticke. of [Page 61] juice of Henbane one cunce, mixe them and drie them together, and make them into a fine powder. Ap­ply some of this, and when the scabby crust (or escar) is growne dry upon the place, take it off with a little sweet butter, or with sweet butter, pitch, & the white of an egge mixed together.

When it is come off, fill the orifice with the powder of Mer­curie and Roche Alum, or els use Mercurie mixed with a little Vn­guentum Basilicon. Which Mer­curie is an excellent thing, not onely to keepe the wound open, but also to draw the poyson out­ward. The wound must be kept open fortie dayes at least: In which time,One way of Cure. the juice of Sorrell is to be applied hot every night and morning; and the decoction (or broth) of the same hearbe, or [Page 62] at least of meate boyled with the same, must be drunke by the pa­tient every morning fasting. Aë­tius saith, he knew an old man that cured this disease often, with this medicine onely.

Or els you may dissolue a little Andromachus Treacle in white wine or Aqua vitae; Galens way. and dipping a little lint or ragge in the war­med mixture, rubbe the orifice as hard as the patient can endure. This also is commended for an excellent Medicine; but then you must apply vpon it Honey and Turpentine mixed with an Onion or Garlicke beaten into the forme of a Poultis. And Ga­len appointeth this Playster fol­lowing to bee applyed to the wound. Take of Vineger a pint and a quarter, Opoponax three ounces, Tarre one ounce. Boyle away the [Page 63] Vineger, and make it a Playster. And this is highly commended by the Author.

In the beginning of this mis­chiefe wee must neither purge nor let bloud, for then wee shall draw the venom from the cir­cumference to the center; which is dangerous to life. Yet both these meanes may be used after­ward; if by continuance of time, and neglect in the beginning, the venom haue spread it selfe into all the vessels. In the meane time, we must set upon it with apt An­tidotes. As with Garlick boyled in white Wine, and drunke fa­sting; which resisteth the poy­sons entrance into the principall parts. Or,

Let him drinke this draught every morning. Take the powders of Myrrhe and Gentian roote; of [Page 64] each one dram; the powder of Ri­ver-Crabs (or Crayfishes) two drams. Mixe them in a fit quantitie of white Wine, and drinke it. Or,

After Galens way, thus.

Take nine parts of the powder of burnt River-Crabs, fiue parts of Gentian roote powdered, and one of Frankincense powdered. Mix them together, and giue a spoonfull of it in a draught of Spring-water. These Antidotes are thus to be continued fortie daies together; and that in the beginning, before he feareth water: for after that, the quantities must be doubled.

The powder of Crabs is made thus.

Take River-Crabs,A Famous Medicine. or Crayfishes, (for Sea-Crabs are naught for this use) in the height of Summer, when the Sunne is in Leo, and the Moone a little past the full. [But Rasis will [Page 65] haue it, when the Sunne is in Aries. [Others in Cancer; it seemes à simi­litudine] I will not disp ute the choyse: but the first is the most generally accepted, from Galen] These being gotten, must be put aliue into a copper vessell, and burnt on the fire to ashes. Then beate them in a Morter, searce them, and so reduce them into a fine Powder.

Another Author, called Iohan­nes Stockerus, both in this, and in all other kindes of venomous bi­tings, affirmeth, this course fol­lowing, never to haue deceived him.

Take Gentian roote powdered, Stockers way of Cure. and Treacle of Andromachus, of each one dram, every morning fasting for three dayes together; and the Patient must fast fiue houres af­ter. If he feele himselfe dispo­sed to sweat, let him order him­selfe [Page 66] in his bed for it, and sweate as much as he can, or is able to beare.

To the wound, in manner of a Playster, applie Garlicke, Rue, and Salt pounded together in a Morter. And so much for the way of Cure in the beginning.

When he beginneth to be af­fraid of water,The cure of Hydro­phobia. he hardly admit­teth of any Cure.

Now the reason of this Hydro­phobia or feare of water is gene­rally held to be,The reason of Hydro­phobia. That the venom abusing the Phantasie, makes the partie affected to haue horrid i­maginations of water. But some speciall Authors (having found by experience that the drinking of cold water causeth Convulsi­ons in such over-dryed and par­ched stomacks) conclude that it is extreame paine & torture pro­ceeding [Page 67] from that drinking that so terrifieth them from it. And this also is the reason why those that feare water are counted in­curable.

Therefore the water that is forced into them ought to be at first very warme, and the partie must by degrees be brought to drinke it colder and colder; so likewise the Baths that they are to be cast into, ought to be in like temper, to avoyd all cramps and Convulsions both inward and outward. Neither must there be any Bath used at all (according to Oribasius) till twentie dayes af­ter the biting, at the soonest.

This Hydrophobia (or feare of water) beginneth not at any cer­taine time after the Biting. For most cōmonly it followeth for­tie dayes after; in some, seaven [Page 68] moneths; in others a whole yeare after. Againe in some it commeth within a fortnight af­ter: According to the strength or weaknesse of the constitution of him that is bitten. For some bodies strength is able to resist the venom farre longer, when o­thers weaknesse sinkes under it much sooner. Some haue their pores more streit to keepe out, others more open to let in the venom. Also some haue their bloud and humours more pure (and therefore lesse apt to in­fection) others more impure and corrupt; therefore more easily turned into venom.

The maine generall Remedie is by Celsus & others held to be,The mayne Remedie. Casting of the Patient into the Water before he be aware of it; and this to be done every day [Page 69] for many dayes together: (For that which he feareth is the one­ly Medicine to cure him). In do­ing this, if he cannot swim, after he hath swallowed a good quan­titie of the water, take him out againe. But if he be skilfull in swimming, hold him under wa­ter a little while till he haue ta­ken in some prettie quantitie; For thus both his extreame thirst and feare of Water will be soo­nest cured. But let him not be long deeper than his nostrills, least hee be suffocated. It the Cramp or any Convulsion take him; as soone as he is out of the water, bath him all over with Sallet Oyle good and warme; which, as it will take away that Accident, so will it also stop the pores of the skin, and keepe the waters cooling quality from go­ing [Page 70] out againe too suddainly.

My selfe (upon the sight of a picture of the Water-Torture in Amboyna) haue conceited this invention.The Au­thors In­vention. Let the Patient bee bound fast to some post or stake, and tie about his necke a linnen cloth doubled and cast into the forme of a hollow Bason (as you would make him looke like the signe of St. Iohn Baptists head in a platter) the cloth must first be dipped in Oyle and Waxe well mixed together, that it may hold water like a Bason: Then let one with an Ewer or Pitcher poure water gently into the cloth, till the water rise up to his nostrills, where through it may enter into his body (if he will not open his mouth) whether he will or no. Keepe the Water still at that height with continuall soft pou­ring [Page 71] in, til he hath drunke a good draught: onely sometimes for­beare so much as to maintaine his breathing. Thus haue I out of a wicked weed sucked Honey for Health; and from an inhu­mane torture extracted ease in a grievous sicknesse. This is the helpe without which is no help; for this case is held incurable without drinking of water.

Yet this is not all that must be done:Evacua­tions. For if the partie be Ple­thorick (that is, too full of good bloud, which will appeare by his high colour, and his big and full veynes) he must be let bloud in the Liver-veyne, according to the discretion of the Artist. If Cacochymick (that is, full of cor­rupted Humors) he must be pur­ged with Sena, Epithymum, Fu­moterrae, Mirobalans, Elaterium, [Page 72] Blacke Helebor, and the like; or with Hamech, Diacatholicon or Diacolocynthis; with white wine, wherein is decocted also rootes of Fenell and Parsley, of medow­grasse, water Lillies, and of Flower-Deluces, and such like diureticke simples: For the provocation of urine is also in this case very be­hoouefull.

This only I set downe to make the cure compleat; but I doe not reduce the Purgatiues into form; because by this time there is lea­sure enough to finde out a Phy­sition.

Now in the last place the Pa­tients Dyet commeth to be ob­served.Diet for those that are bitten with a mad Dogge. And such sicke ones must feed somthing liberally; for hun­ger is very hurtfull to such as suf­fer under venomous wounds. In the beginning of this disease, [Page 73] Salt meats, and sharp Sauces are good, as Sorrell, Vineger, and Verjuice; also Garlicke, Onions, and Leekes, for by their helpe the mad venom is hindred from creeping into the noble parts. Fattie and slimie meats also are to be chosen, because they stop the passages, and mouths of the vessells, that they may not easi­ly let in the poyson. His drinke must be stale middle Beere; And of Wines, Sherrys, and Graues-Cla­ret or White are the best. But af­ter eight, or at the farthest fifteen dayes are past, let his sauces be of a more temperate qualitie, tending rather to moyst than drie; and such as are proper to resist melancholy; as pickled Gelly-flowers, Broom-buds, Capars, Asparagus, and such like. In his Broths boyle Beets, Violets, Suc­corie [Page 74] and Endiue, Parsley, and Fen­nell-roots; Anise-seeds and Fenell-seeds, and such other simples that provoke urine, (which as I sayd before are very profitable in this case) Also Sweet Wines, as Mus­cadine, Canarie, and High-Countrey white wine. Sometimes also (to please the pallat; let him licke of Oxymel simplex, Syrrup of Citrons, or Syrrup of Lemons. He may also eat River-Crabs or Cray-fishes ei­ther raw or buttered. But from the beginning the flesh that he eateth must be of Mutton, Veale, Lambe, Kid, Rabbet, Pullet, Chic­ken, Partridge or Pheasant. Some counsell to mince some roasted Veale, and the Liver of the mad dogge roasted, together, and so let him eare it with a little but­ter, water, and Vineger.

To conclude; His Belly must [Page 75] be kept soluble (if need require) by gentle Giysters and Supposito­ries: And his Sleepe must in the beginning be but little; but when he beginneth to rage, and is of himselfe overwakefull, it is good by some safe outward meanes (such as the Artist shall see cause to appoint) to cause Sleepe.

CHAPTER XI.
Bitings of Creatures not ve­nomous, yet in some Consti­tutions apt to turne into ve­nom.

SOme are bitten by Dogges that are not madde; or by Apes, Monckeys, Squi­rills; by Horses, by Mankinde, or any other creature not veno­mous: [Page 76] yet somtimes these woūds in some kinde of Flesh are hard to heale.

The reason is either in the Creature biting, or in the partie bitten. In the Creature biting, though in it's owne nature it be not venomous; yet there is at that time a malignant qualitie in the moysture of the mouth, be­gotten by the disturbance of the braine, through immoderate an­ger.

In the partie bitten:The reason why some mens flesh is easily, and some mens hard­ly cured. Some men are made up of a kinde of Flesh alwayes (by what accident soe­ver wounded) hard to be cured. These either are very melancho­like of Constitution (and Melan­choly is the most offensiue humor in the body, and therefore apt through any extraordinary pas­sion to become corrupted and in [Page 77] a sort venomous) or they are ve­ry fearefull; and Feare corrupts the juices of the braine (through the force of imagination) and makes them fall downe and dis­perse thēselues into all the parts of the body filled with a sickly qualitie, and so contrary to na­ture. This is the reason why fear­full men are apt to die of a slight wound: whereas a valiant Spirit hath alwayes flesh apt to be hea­led.

Now for such hard healing Flesh (from which of the two causes soever it cōmeth) I coun­saile, that besides the ordinarie course of curing wounds artifi­cially according to the Rules of Chururgerie, there be also given some temperate Cordiall (as it were an Antidote against this ve­nomous Accident) to call up the [Page 78] Spirits, and to comfort the Fa­culties. For I know it by expe­rience, that the Cure is thereby made much the more easie.

Such an Antidote is this fol­lowing; which (because it can­not be rightly made but by an Artist) I will set downe in Latine for the Apothecaries understan­ding onely▪ least the Ignorant tampering beyond their skill, discredit the Medicine.

Infundantur omnia in Aquae Vi­taeli. xxiiij. horis 24. Tum in alem­bico destillentur. s. a.

[Page 79] In Aqua elicita infunde etiam Glycyrrhizae parum, sic gustui arridebit.

This Cordiall Water my Fa­ther called Nepenthes. If the An­gelica be good indeed, it will haue both a pleasant taste and smell.

A spoonfull or two of this Water recalls, rectifies, and con­firmes the Spirits Animall, Vitall, and Naturall: For Swoū ­dings acō ­mon Acci­dent. And is therefore very good against Fayntings and Swoundings.

CHAP. XII.
Inward or Outward Bruises by a fall from an high place.

Somtimes it happeneth un­fortunately, that a Man falleth downe from an high place, as from a house-top, [Page 80] a high tree, a scaffold, or a lad­der; and is taken up for dead: yet in a little time, may by good meanes be recovered to life; and the Bruise (whether it be inward or outward) may be cured.

In this case, the maine things to be looked to, are: First to re­cover the partie to life & sense: which may be done by the use of my Cordiall Water, called Ne­penthes, described in the Chapter immediately going before; or els with some other comforta­ble drinke of like nature.

Secondly, if the Bruise be In­ward:Inward Bruise. there will be either ejecti­on of Bloud at the Mouth, Nose, Fundament, or passage of Vrine, or els congealing of Bloud with­in, wherewith will be Inward paine, and difficultie of Brea­thing.

[Page 81] If the partie avoyd bloud, it is not amisse, so it goe not too farre to the expence of his Spirits: But if so, then giue him halfe a dram of Terra Sigillata in a draught of Posset drinke, Too much bleeding from with­in. wherein the flowers of St. Iohns Wort are boyled. Or, The tops of St. Iohns Wort boyled in Posset-ale. Or, Take red Corall,

Make all into fine powder, and divide it into foure equall quan­tities or Doses. Take every dose in two ounces of Plantaine water, and as much red wine mixed to­gether, once in six houres, as need shall require. Or els, Take the quantitie of a Walnut of old Conserue of red Roses mixed with a scruple of the powder of Mastick; or rather with fiue or six drops of [Page 82] the Oyle of Masticke: Repeat the taking according to need.

But if there be no evacution,Bloud con­gealed within. but suspition of the Bloud con­gealed within. Then

Take Nep stamped and strayned, with a little Ale or Beere, and drinke a draught of it once in six houres. After three times taking it so; stamp it new and strayne it with Muscadine, and drinke a lit­tle draught in the morning fast­ing, and at night when you goe to bed. Or,

Take the quantitie of a Beane of quicke Brimstone in powder, in a little white Wine warmed. Or els, Twentie graines of Irish-Slate in powder in a draught of Posset-Ale made with white Wine.

Some giue ij. drams of Rheu­barb, with one of Madder, made [Page 83] into powder, in a draught of white wine: repeating it, as need requireth. Or, two drams of Rheubarb alone, in neate white wine. Or, Take of Rheubarb one dram, Madder and Mummie, of each two scruples. Make them into fine powder, & drinke it in a draught of some ordinary Pectorall De­coction.

Outwrdly annoynt the Brest,Outward meanes. or Backe, (as cause electeth) with two ounces of Oyle of St. Iohns Wort, and halfe an ounce of Sperma ceti mixed together, and warmed, Doe this morning and evening. Or els, use this Oynt­ment.

Take of new charned butter un­salted ij. pound; Madder one ounce powdered, Tormentill roots powdred vj. drams, Mummie halfe an ounce powdred, Sugar Candie powdred iiij. [Page 84] ounces, Sperma ceti ij. ounces. Boyle them together in a suffi­cient quantitie of good white Wine, till all the wine be boy­led away. Then with a little Wax boyle it againe to an Vn­guent.

Thirdly,Outward Bruise. if the Bruise be Out­ward onely; you must consider whether it be a Simple or meere Bruise, or a Bruise with a wound. If it be a simple Bruise.Simple. You may make a Playster with Branne, Honey, and a little Salt (or ra­ther Niter, if you can get it) and apply to it. Or, Take the powder, and the Oyle of Myrtles, of each an ounce, and the white of an egge well beaten. Make a mixture of them, and dip Clonts in it, and apply them to the place. If the Contu­sion or Bruise be very large, you must make your quantitie accor­dingly.

[Page 85] But if there be a wound with­all;With a wound. Stop not the bloud too soone (if it bleed well) for many times the noxious humours that are mixed with the bloud, are very happily evacuated that way. But if on the other side it bleed too much: Take the white of an Egge well beaten, and mixed with Bole Armoniak made into fine powder, and dipping a peice of flax therein, lay it to the wound. Or, the white of an egge beaten, browne paper ashes, and fine powder of Chalke mixed to­gether. A Cobweb also of a fit bignes for the wound, doth ma­ny times serue the turne. Or els, haue this Powder alwayes rea­dy. Take Sanguis Draconis, Oli­banum, Aloës hepatica, and Sarco­colla, of each ij. ounces; roote of the Flower de Luce one ounce. Make all into fine powder, and mixe [Page 86] them together. Apply a suffici­ent quantitie to the wound, and lay upon it some flax wet with the white of an egge on that side to be layd next the wound; and binde it on gently for strayning the wound. This is very effectu­all.

As for the Cure of a Greene Wound,Bradwells Balsam for Greene Wounds and Brui­ses. there are so many Bal­sams abroad, that I need not teach any. Yet to shew, I am no niggard of my Medicines, ac­cept of this Balsam of mine.

Take of the best Sallet Oyle two pints, put it in a jarre-glasse with a broad mouth; put to it an hand­full of flowers of the greater Com­fery. Then cover it with a tren­cher, and set it in the Sunne a weeke. Then put in the leaues of six red Roses not too much blown; a handfull of Mullen-flowers, and [Page 87] as much of the flowers of St Iohns Wort. Set it in the Sunne still all the Summer. And if you adde two or three leaues of greene To­bacco, it will be the better.

This haue I often proved to be excellēt, both for green wounds & Bruises, annoynting the place with it warme: and lapping the part up close from the outward ayre.

The last mayne poynt in this Accident to be considered is Paine in the Head,Paine in the Head. which is for the most part a companion of such falls; and if it be much, must bee mittigated by some meanes, least it bring the patient into a Feavor.

For this therefore, Anoynt the aking part of the head with oyle of Roses and oyle of Lillies mix­ed together. Or foment & bathe [Page 88] it with this Fomentation. Take of the yong and tender leaues of Myr­tles one handfull, Myrrhe in powder three drams. Boyle them in Musca­dine.

Or els, Take a Quince or two, pare them, and coare them, & boyle them in Muscadine till they be soft: Then beate them in a Morter to a Poultis, and apply them very warme to the aking place.

If one application serue not, repeat it often.

But, if in such a fall, any Bone be put out of joynt, or broken; they must get helpe of such as are skilful in Bone-setting, which Art is learnt by sight, and not by writing.

CHAP. XIII.
For those that are almost Strangled by a Halter, Gar­ter, or such like meanes.

SOme haue beene strangled in jest. As I knew a Play­er that one time acting a part wherein he was to be han­ged; and having not fastned his halter sufficiently to his trusse, it slipped, and almost choaked him in earnest. I knew another man that was robber at Tiburn, and because he asked the theeues how they could be so bold to tempt their fate in the face of the gallows, they hanged him up there; but presently upon sight of company tooke them to their heeles, and by the same compa­ny [Page 90] the man was saved from a fi­nall executiō. Some also through desperation haue hanged them­selues, as we haue too often ex­amples.

If any of these may bee cut down while there is life in him; he may by GODS blessing and skilfull endevours be recovered.

A learned Doctor of Physicke, Dr. Guyn. being asked how one might be recovered in this case, answered both briefly and wittily; Cut a throat to saue a life. A good way of help but hard to performe. His meaning was, That way must be made by incision, through the skin in the place where the Halter was; that so the constrained bloud might be set at libertie, the coagulated bloud let out, and way given for the windepipe & other internall vessells to open themselues a­gaine. But this is not to be at­tempted [Page 91] by any but some skilful Chirurgion indeed, that knoweth perfectly the situatiō of the parts; for if any nerue or tendon should be touched, great mischiefes would follow; and if the Iugular veynes be cut, it is the present death of the Patient. Therefore other and safer meanes are to be attempted.

As soone then as the Halter is loosed from his necke,A more easie way. presently thrust your finger as farre as you can downe his throat (forcing o­pen his with some fit instrumēt) & presently plucke it out againe; that you may open the passage within, but not stop his breath more. Then straight way poure downe his throat some warme Vineger with beaten Pepper in it; or Penyroyall beaten & boy­led in Vineger; or Nettleseeds [Page 92] beaten and boyled in Vineger. Provoke him also to vomit by tickling his throat with a feather dipped in ranck Oyle. About the place of the Halter also (to mol­lifie and open the skin, and dis­solue the bruised bloud) wrap linnen clouts dipped in Sperma ceti, (or sallet Ole) and oyle of Lillies mixed together, and apply them good and hot: and as they wax cold, renue them continu­ally.

Hippocrates in his 43.Question about Foa­ming at the mouth. Aphorisme of his second Booke, sayes that those that are any way strangled and not yet dead, if about their mouths there appeare a foame, will never bee recovered. But Galen in his Comment upon that place seemes to bee of another minde. And Christopherus à Vega in his Tract. de Arte Medendi li. 3. [Page 93] Sectio. 5. cap. 8. affirmeth that he saw three recovered that foamed at the mouth. One of which had hanged himselfe, but his friends did quickly cut the rope, and he was preserved by drinking Vine­ger and Pepper: for that mixture restoreth the almost extinct heat. Being come to himselfe, let the Patient abstein from much talke, for the space of foure and twen­ty houres; and let him haue some Ptisan or Pectorall Decoction for his drinke.

And when he is grown strong againe, if he yet feele some en­cumbrance, and swelling in his throat; it is good to open the Ce­phalica, or head-veyne of his arme, and let him bleed nine or ten ounces, or according to his age and strength. But this must bee done by due judgement of [Page 94] the Artist, who may by this time be brought to him.

CHAP. XIIII.
For such as are almost Drow­ned and stifled in VVater.

MAny take great delight in swimming and ba­ting themselues in Ponds and Rivers in the Sum­mer time; some to clense and coole their bodies, some for pleasure of their skill in swim­ming, others either for company or meere wantonnesse: And ma­ny of these adventure into places past their depth; where I haue knowne some taken with the Cramp on the suddaine, that if there had not beene many hel­pers at hand, they had speedily [Page 95] perished. Some happen into whirlepools, wherein they haue been violently drawne, and im­mediatly drowned, while their companions might looke on with sorrow, but could lend no helpe to saue them. Others in a great River haue beene carried away by the strength of the streame in spite of their skill in swimming, whereupon before they had so much presumed. O­thers floating among slags and weeds, haue had their feete so entangled by them, that neither the strength of nature, nor the sleights of Art could keepe them from being cast away.

And here, by the way let me insert a counsell to such as are Fathers and Mothers,A Caveat. or Ma­sters and Tutors to yong Boyes. Some use to keep their children [Page 96] in so strictly, that the unfortunate poore fooles longing after such forbidden pleasure; and fearing to make others privie to their purpose, steale out by thēselues, and run into some river or pond, without discretion or election; where (having neither guide nor helper, but such as themselues) some of them somtimes proue by the losse of their liues, that while they beguiled their gover­nours too much, they deceived themselues most of all. To pre­vent this therefore, it were good (in my judgement) to giue way to these desires of children, at fit times of the yeare, and in waters whose bottoms are even and san­dy, with cleare & gentle streames fit for their strength and stature; and free from flags, weeds, holes and whirlepooles: having also [Page 97] with them some discreet man skilfull in swimming, that (if any danger should happe,) may spee­dily succour them. And the times of the yeare fit for such bathes, I hold to be in the beginning of Iuly, and in the end of August▪ That is, before and in the end of the dog dayes; The best time of the day likewise, is an houre be­fore Sunne-set.

And now to return to the point although by the accidents afore­said, as also by violent stormes, & the darknesse of night, too too many following their affayres haue beene woefully wasted to the shore of suddain death: yet some haue bin taken up for dead that with carefull and skilfull u­sage haue recovered both Life the true loue of nature, & Health the happinesse of Life. Therefore [Page 98] when any one is so found,The way of Recovery. the first thing to be done is to turne his feete upward, his head and mouth downward, & so to hold or hang him up by the heels, that the water may come out of him againe. If this alone cause him not to cast out the water, and the partie be without sense or moti­on; then also let some one of the standers by, that is of good dis­cretion, put his finger into the parties throat, or take a feather dipped in Linseed oyle, & thrust it into his throat, turning it round therein, to make him vomit. And in the meane time, let others help forth the water by stroaking, cru­shing, and driving his belly and stomacke reasonable hard, from the bottom of his belly toward his throat. If it be cold weather, let all this be done in a warme [Page 99] roome before a good fire. After the water is come away, it is good to hold strong sweet smelling things to his nose (as Muske, Lig­num Aloës, or such like) to warme the Braine, and comfort the Spi­rits. Also if he remaine senselesse or faynting, his Spirits are to be recalled and awaked with Ros so­lis, Aqua Caelestis, or some such comfortable water; and he is to be handled in all poynts as those use to be that fall in a Swound.

If by these meanes he recover life,The Cure after Reco­very. sense, and speech; let him (some two houres after) eat some meat of a hen or chick (if he be a­ble) or els suck the juice of them; and let them be roasted or broy­led, rather than any other way dressed (for so doth Alexander Benedictus counsell, li. 7. cap. 3. De Curandis morbis.) And with his [Page 100] meat, let him eate Pepper and Sù­gar, or Pepper and Honey, as he li­keth best. He may also eate a roa­sted egge with pepper in it. But let him not drink at all in 24. houres at the least, & then let it be mid­dle-Beere and white wine mixed together; of which let him drinke but 2. small draughts at a meale, and betwixt meales not at all. This Diet let him obserue for a weeke together, keeping him­selfe warme and moderately stir­ring his body immediately be­fore, & an houre after his meate.

Also, if the Physition see it re­quisite, other meanes may be u­sed to prevent the comming of a Feavor, or to mitigate, and take it away if it be already come; as also to prevent a Dropsie, which is a likely effect of such a watery cause. The refore by good advise [Page 101] Bloud-letting in the Liver-veyn, Glysters, and other Medicines may be administred.

Lastly, For Water gotten into the Eares. if any water be gotten into his Eares; Take Goose grease, and the juice of an Onion, mixe them well together, and drop a little of it bloud-warme into his Eares.

Sometime such a sorrowfuli mis-fortune may befall a man in the Winter time;A Modern Story of an old Gentle­woman. or it may hap­pen to an old body, as once it did in the North part of the Devonshire to a worthy old Gentlewoman, who stepping on a bridge over a gutter, her feet slipping, shee fell in; and through her great weak­nesse (being aboue fourescore yeares of age) because shee was not able to helpe up her selfe a­gain; she lay so long till with cry­ing she had no voyce left. It plea­sed God that the water was not [Page 102] so high as to drowne her; but the coldnesse of it had like to haue killed her before helpe came: for she was not heard into the house, though shee strayned her voyce exceedingly, and though the house was hard by. Onely her sonne comming forth that way by meere chance, found and sa­ved her.

In this case,The Cure. let some cordiall water (as my Nepenthes, Aqua Cae­lestis, or the like) be given first in­wardly, to helpe naturall heate forth into the outward parts a­gaine. Then lay the patient in his naked bed well warmed; And if it be a man, let a young man (in whom naturall heat hath his full force) strip himselfe naked and presently goe to bed to him, and there embrace him closely, kee­ping in the clothes about him on [Page 103] all sides, til he haue brought heat into him againe. If it be a wo­man, let some young mayden of a sanguin complexion do the like.

The patients diet must be of good nourishing and warming things, using some cordiall medi­cine morning and night, first and last, for ten dayes together.

Once I knew an Infant of two yeares olde,An Infant drowned in Soap-suds. or there about; that was drowned in a tub of Soap-suds. And because it is a chance that may happen to moe, I will shew how Skenckius sayth that he recovered such an one.Observ. li. 2. Observ. 18. It was a little Girle betwixt two & three yeares of age, which fell into a vessell of Soap-suds, with which soapie water her stomacke was much filled, and the child there­upō seemed ready to giue up the ghost; lay in a dead sleepe, ratled [Page 104] in the throat, hardly drew breath, made a groaning noise, as one suf­focated, and lay gasping and ga­ping like a dying body: the wine­pipe being so over-full & oppres­sed, that it could hardly receiue ayre in, or returne breath out.

Skenckius being sent for,The Cure. pre­scribed a Decoction of unhulled Barley with Liquorice and Figges, adding a little Butter and Sugar. This he caused presently to be poured downe her throat luke­warme; where by she was provo­ked to vomit out all the soapie water; and so was recovered. And I beleeue (though Skenckius make no mention of it) he gaue her also afterward some Antidote or Cordiall Medicine (as was meete) to resist the venomous qualitie of the Soap, where of it must needs leaue some reliques [Page 105] behinde it, too strong for the weake nature of such an Infant to overcome. Therefore in this case I would giue ten graines of Harts horne finely powdered, with one graine of Bezoar-stone, or els with three or foure graines of Ambar­greise in a little distilled water of Carduus, Scabius, or Dragons. And this should be repeated every six houres, till it haue beene given three times. Or els a little Mithri­date dissolved in Red-rose-water, sweetned with a little Sugar.

Forestus (in li. 15. of his observa­tions, the 26 Observation) tells of a mayd about 19.Note. yeares of age, that having fallne into a filthy Water (some stinking ditch or sewer it should seeme) being not suffocated, but having drunke in much of that water, and suffici­ently vomited, using the helpe of [Page 106] no Physition; within a fortnight after, she fell into a paine of her loynes, and a continuall Feavor. For which she was faine to be let bloud and purged; and Forestus administred other remedies also, having much labour to saue her life. This I thought good to note as a warning to those that are apt to make sleight account of the Physition, when they finde not present danger of death.

CHAP. XV.
For those that are Choaked with Smoake of new kindled Coales in a close Roome.

IT is dangerous to be in a little roome with the doores and windows shut, where there is a panne or fornace with fire in [Page 107] the middest of the roome: espe­cially while the Coales are kind­ling, or the Fornace but newly made is annealing. For the va­pour & smoake stifleth suddain­ly, before it be suspected or per­ceived. Diverse haue been found dead in this manner.

Christopherus à Vega, A Story out of Ve­ga. Tract. de Arte Medendi. li. 3. Sect. 5. cap. 8. tells of divers that having supped together in a close room, the fire (as it should seem) being renew­ed after supper, and the dore shut to keepe the cold ayre out; sud­dainly cast up their supper again, with great perturbation of their Spirits and swounding: No man considering the cause, and there­fore not labouring for the reme­die. Some of them died before they could complaine that they ayled any thing. Others were by [Page 108] this Physition found vomiting. But when he had set open the dore and casements, they were soone refreshed and recovered with the meere ingresse of the fresh ayre.

By which you may perceiue,The Cure. that the venting of the ill ayre out, and the receiving of the fresh ayre in, is both the Prevention and Cure of this Accident. But commonly there remaineth an head-ach for a while after, which with some coole persume, as rose­water poured on a hot fire-sho­vell, or Camphor held to the par­ties nose; and the applying of a Rose-cake dipped in Vineger and Rose-water (or in Vineger alone) to the forehead and temples. After their recovery, it is good also to gargle with warme water, and Oyle of Violets, or Oyle of [Page 109] sweet Almonds; and to drinke some fat broths; or swallow some warme fat moresells of Mutton or Lambe; or els some fresh butter. Such things doth Haly Abbas in the 6. Booke and 4. Chapter of his practice appoynt, And the reason I take to be, that Fatty and Oyly things will best heale that harsh­nesse that the smoake and ill va­pours haue begotten in the throat and stomacke. If a Feavor sue­ceed, & the constiution require it, Forestus counsaileth to open a veyne. Li. 15. Scholia ad Obser. 26.

Ambrose Parey (in his treatise de Renuntiationibus) finding two ser­vants in this case,Another Story out of Ambrose Parey. in sight dead, and their teeth set in their head; tooke this course. First with a sil­ver quill (which one may better doe with a Syringe) he put into their months some Aqua vitae [Page 110] well rectified (that is, twice or thrice distilled) with Hiera and Treacle dissolved in it. With of­ten doing thus, they beganne to stirre; and soone after voyded much filth at the nose & mouth, Vpon this, he gaue them Oxymel very often, with which (together with much rubbing & clapping on the backe) a great deale of flegme and slimie stuffe, with bloudy yellow frothy matter came out of their mouths. Then did he blow up into their no­strills the powder of Euphorbium to purge the braine better (but I would rather advise the powder of good Tobacco, with a little Euphorbium, if need be; because Euphorbium of it selfe is dange­rously violent) and so with oyle of Mints rubbing the pallats of their mouths, and their jawes [Page 111] within, much more filthy mat­ter came forth. Then a sharpe Glyster drew the remnant down­ward After which, with Cor­dialls he refreshed their spirits, and rectified their depraved hu­mors.

CHAP. XVI.
For such as are Suffocated with Stinking Smells.

ONe may be choaked also with stinking Scents, such as privies and fil­thy ditches send forth.Amoderne Story. As in Saint Laurence Lane in London a young man fell into a privy vault, about fourteen yeares agoe (as I remember) who with the stink­ing stuffe was for the time suffo­cated; but being missed, and by chance, was with much ado got­ten [Page 112] to life againe. Neverthelesse, using such onely as wanted skill to encounter such a strange Ac­cident, he died within two or three dayes after.

Christopherus à Vega, A Story out of Ve­ga. in the place before quoted, tells of two men that being employed among o­thers in cleansing certaine sinkes, and stinking sewers, were so o­vercome of the evill savours, that by their fellows they were taken up & carried out for dead. Yet hee recovered them both The one by giving him Vineger and Pepper to drinke.The Cure. And the other by pouring into him Vine­ger and the powder of Penyroy­all. It is good for him also to hold to his nose strong sweete perfumes, as of Muske, Ambar-Greise, Civet, Lignum Aloës, and such like, But where such rich [Page 113] Simples are not to be had, Sweet Marjoram, Tyme, Penyroyall, Rose­mary, and Lavender (rubbed to­gether betwixt ones hands) may be held to the nose. And if any of that filthy water bee gone downe into his stomacke, it must be brought forth by vomiting. Likewise, if in at the nostrills, the patient must be provoked to nee­zing, with powder of Tobacco, long Pepper, or such like.

CHAP. XVII.
For things Sticking in the Throate.

OF Things that endanger stopping of the breath in swallowing, some are Sharp, and some Blunt.

Of the Sharp sort are Fishbones,Sharpe Things. [Page 114] Pinnes, Thornes, and such like: for sometimes a Fish-bone in swallowing sticketh crosse the throat, and is very offensiue. And the like hath happened by a Pinne with such as foolishly use to carry Pinnes in their mouths.

Of the Blunt sort,Blunt Things. it happeneth sometimes through over-greedy eating, that a gobbet of meate, or a peice of a bone too big for the swallow, sticketh in the throat likely to stop the breath. Some­times through wanton rowling of a peece of money, a ring, a bul­let, a pease, a plumstone, or some such like thing; it slippeth into the throat and sticketh there. Some againe whose gullet is ve­ry narrow, in swallowing a Pill haue beene much endangered. I haue heard of a Child in Wood­street strangled with a Grape: [Page 115] and we reade that Anacreon the Greeke Poet was choaked with a Grape stone.

Now of those things that are Blunt; they that are of the bigger size cannot fall into the winde­pipe, because the passage is too little to entertaine them: But they offend with their over-bignesse sticking in the meate-pipe, and so compressing or thrusting toge­ther the necke of the windepipe which joyneth to the meat-pipe, that the breath (for that cause) cannot passe freely. On the other side, very Small things, as a Crumme, a drop of liquor, or the like, cannot sticke in the meat­pipe; but their offence is by rea­son that when we swallow and breath at once, the Epiglottis (which is a little peice of flesh that covereth the mouth of the [Page 116] windepipe to keepe the things that we swallow from falling in­to it) lifting it selfe up (as it al­wayes doth either to take in aire, or to let out breath) some little thing may in that poynt of time slip into the windepipe, whose passage is so streit, that the breath is presently stopped.

The Sharp things may light into either passage, and if they turne crosse; their offence is pain­full pricking & wounding of the part; whereupon may follow in­flamation, and swelling; which swelling will stop the breath al­so, as in the Squinancie the swel­ling of the neighbour-parts strei­tens the Breath-pipe.

If those of the bigger Blunt sort sticke in the mouth of the meat­pipe,Toremoue things in the meat­pipe. let the party drinke as great a draught of drinke as he can to [Page 117] carry it downe. If that will not stirre it, but the partie waxeth blacke in the face, and cannot fetch his breath; clap him often on the necke betwixt the shoul­ders, holding downe his head; and giue him a draught of sallet Oyle to make it slip away. But if it be so low in the throat, & fix­ed, that it cannot be gotten up nor downe; let some discreet bo­dy thrust it downe with their fin­ger, or with a smooth sticke.

If a Pinne or Fish-bone sticke in the throat, and it be so high that (opening the mouth wide) you may see some part of it: plucke it out (if you can come at it) with your fingers; or with a hooked wiar, or else with two smooth stickes in manner of a payre of tongs: a small curling-i­ron is very apt for the purpose. [Page 118] If it be low & out of sight, thrust in a small Candle of Virgin-wax warmed sufficiently, that the Pin or Bone may sticke to it when it toucheth it, and so you may draw it out. Or if you haue no such Candle, take a small limber wil­low sticke, make it crooked like a bow, and annoynt it at one end with Turpentine, and assay in the same manner to fetch it out. Or let him swallow downe a peece of a Spronge fastned to the end of a browne thred, and annoyn­ted with Turpentine; and when it is gone so low as to touch that which sticketh in the way; with the thred plucke out the Sponge againe. If it will not come forth; Swallow a peice of fat meate up­on it to driue it downe; or a figge opened & turned the inside out­ward; or a crummy peice of new [Page 119] bread dipped in saller Oyle.

But if a crumme of Bread,To remoue Things in the winde­pipe. a small Fish-bone, a Pinne or such like, suddainly slip into the wind­pipe; it will make him cough, & let some other make him neez likewise by tickling his nostrills with straws or rushes. If he cough not enough to bring it out, let him swallow (by suddain gulps) some Vineger or Verjuice: so with much coughing it will be driven out; for the breath will not suffer it to sinke very low.

But sometime a drop of Vine­ger, or some such sharpe sauce slipping of it selfe into the same passage, causeth much trouble. The partie must then drinke lea­surely, and by gulps a draught or two of water and honey; or els of small Ale and Sugar.

CHAP. XVIII.
For Scaldings with VVater, Oyle, Lye, Milke, or any o­ther Liquor.
As also for Burnings with Fire, Gun-powder, Lime, or such like.

FOR Scaldings. For Scal­dings. Take the White of an egge or two or moe of them, according to the largenesse of the hurt: Beat it with a sufficient quantitie of oyle of Roses, or els of sallet oyle. Dip fine rags in it, and ap­ply them to the place, and take them off no more till it be well. Onely three or foure times in a day wet the place through them with the sayd mixture.

[Page 121] Against Fire or Gun-powder;For Bur­nings. Take two pounds of Butter that was never salted, melt it, & poure it into Spring-water; there beat it and wash it well. Then take twelue ounces of the fine powder of Brimstone, the seeds of Cou­cumbers made into fine powder, and Camphor also in fine powder, of each halfe an ounce. Mix all together with the Butter, and keepe it as an Oyntment; in which dipping a feather, annoint the part burned, and lay a fine soft linnen cloth upon it. Repeat the annoynting often.

Sometimes Burning Lime may be spurted into the Eye,For Bur­ning Lime &c. in the Eye. or some scalding drop, or a sparke of Fire may leap into it. For this, the white of an Egge beaten with Eye­bright water, or Carduus water, is very good; if you drop now and [Page 122] then a drop of it into the eye. But the Playster of Carduus de­scribed in the 8. Chapter is most soveraigne.

I was in place about seaven yeares since,A True Story. where some Gen­tlemen were taking Tobacco; and as one had knocked out the snuffe or coale of it on the Ta­ble; another in jest blew it to­ward him, he also blew it at him againe. This began to be pur­sued from one to the other, till a little Girle looking on (whose height was little aboue the Ta­ble) received the evill of their jesting; for some of the burning­coale of Tobacco was blown in­to her eye. It tormented her ex­treamely (as nothing burneth more terribly) I ran into the gar­den, where I found some ground Ivie, whereof I gathered some, [Page 123] which I stamped, and strayned, and putting a little fine powdred Sugar to the Iuice, I dropped some of it into her eye; upon which she received suddain ease, and had it not applyed aboue twice more, before she was per­fectly well: But in the meane time, her eye was muffled up from the outward ayre.

Here obserue that the eye must never be dressed with any Oyle or Oyntment;Note. because oyly and greasie things diminish the sight.

But for all the parts of the Head and body beside, make use of these two Oyntments following, which are approoved excellent for All kindes of Scaldings and Burnings whatsoever.