A treatise concerning the plague and the pox discovering as well the meanes how to preserve from the danger of these infectious contagions, as also how to cure those which are infected with either of them.

A treatise concerning the plague and the pox discovering as well the meanes how to preserve from the danger of these infectious contagions, as also how to cure those which are infected with either of them.

Table of contents

Title page

The Printer to the Reader.

The Author to the Reader.

A defensative against the Plague.

The first Treatise

CHAP. I. What the Plague is.

CHAP. II. Cause of the Plague.

CHAP. III. Warnings of the Plague to come.

CHAP. IIII. Sheweth how to prevent the Plague.

A good perfume in summer season.

Another good perfume in winter.

CHAP. V.

An excellent good preservative which I have alwaies used with good successe.

Another excellent good preservative.

Another very good.

CHAP. VI.

An excellent quilt or Bag.

Another Bag.

A Pomander good in the Summer time.

Another good one for the winter time.

A good Nodule for the Summer season.

Another Nodule for the Winter season.

A Nosegay for the same purpose.

CHAP. VII.

A Suppository.

A good Glister.

Raisins laxative how to make them.

A good Oyntment to keep one Sollible.

Good pills to keep one soluble, and they do also resist the Pestilence.

CHAP. VIII.

Pills good to purge.

A good purging potion.

A purging powder for such as cannot take Pills.

Floures stopt, how to provok them.

Issues commended against the Plague.

CHAP. IX. What Diet we ought to keep.

For your Pottage you may take in the Summer.

CHAP. X. Sheweth what Exercise and Order is to be kept.

CHAP. XI. Teacheth what orders Magistrates, and Rulers of Cities and Townes, should cause to be observed,

CHAP. XII. Doth shew what you must do when you go to visit the sick.

CHAP. XIII. Sheweth the signes of infection.

Good signes.

Evill signes.

The Second Treatise, shewing the meanes how to cure the Plague.

CHAP. I.

An excellent good Powder to expell the Plague, which also provoketh sweat.

Another good Powder.

A good Opiat to expell venome, and provoke sweat.

Another excellent good means to expell the venom, and procure sweat.

An excellent good water against the Plague, and divers other diseases, which is to be made in May or June.

CHAP. II. Sheweth what is to be done after taking of the Cordiall.

A good defensative Unguent.

Epithemation.

Another.

A Quilt for the Heart.

A cordiall Iulep.

Another Iulep.

A Iulep to quench thirst.

A Iulep to quench thirst and resist Venenosity.

A good Purgation in a strong body.

Another in a plethorick and full body.

A good purgation for a weak body.

Another gentle purgation.

A good Cordiall to be taken after Purging.

Another good Cordiall to be given where great heat is.

A good Cordiall potion.

CHAP. III. Sheweth what symptoms often chance, and how to help them.

For lightnesse of the head through want of sleep.

Oyntment to provoke sleep.

For raveing and raging▪

A good Sacculus for raving and raging.

Aphtham, to help it.

A good Gargarism for the mouth.

Vomiting extreamly, how to help it.

A good bag for the stomack.

Yoxe, or yexing, to stay it.

Flix, how to stop it.

Epithemation for the heart.

CHAP. IIII. Sheweth the generall cure of a botch when he appeares outwardly.

A good Maturative.

Another.

Another, where no inflammation is.

A Digestive,

A digestive Cataplasme.

CHAP. V. Sheweth how to bring the botch out, that lieth deep within the body or flesh.

A good Maturative Cataplasme.

Another

Another which is sooner made.

A Vesicatory.

When the botch will not come to Maturation, but continueth alwayes hard.

An Epithemation.

A Digestive.

CHAP. VI. Sheweth what is to be done when the botch strikes in again.

CHAP. VII. Sheweth how to draw a botch from one place to another, and so to discusse him without breaking.

Epithemation.

CHAP. VIII. Sheweth how to know a Carbunkle or blain, as also the 〈◊〉 of the same.

The cure of the Carbunkle.

A Maturative Cataplasm.

Mundificative annodine.

Another Mundificative.

When the Carbuncle doth come with great pain and inflammation, how to help it.

The Bag.

The Cataplasm.

A Short Treatise of the Small Pox, shewing the Means how for to govern and cure those which are infected therewith.

CHAP. I. Sheweth what the Small Pox and Measels are, and whereof it proceedeth.

What the Measels or Males are.

The cause of the Pox and Measels.

CHAP. II. Sheweth to know the signs when one is infected, as also the good and ill signs in the disease.

How to know of what humours this disease cometh.

CHAP. III. Sheweth the meanes to cure the Pox or Measels.

A Glister.

Eyes, how to preserve them.

CHAP IIII. Teacheth what is to be done when the Pox or Measels are flow in coming forth.

Another good drink to expell the Pox or Measels.

Epithemation for the heart.

Thirst, how to quench it.

CHAP. V. Sheweth what is to be done when the Pox are all come out in the skinne.

When the Pox, after they come out, do not grow to maturation, how you shall help it.

Ulceration, to help it.

A very good unguent for the same purpose.

For extream heat and burning in the soales of the seet, and palms of the hands.

For to help the sorenesse and ulceration of the mouth.

For inflammation and paine in the tonsils and throate.

Another.

How to open the eye-lids that are fastened together with the Pox.

A good Collery for a Web or Ungula in the eye.

CHAP VI. Teacheth how to help divers accidents which chance after the Pox are cured and gone.

For rednesse of the face and hands after the Pox are gone, how to help it.

For spots in the face remaining when the Pox are gone.

A good ointment for the same purpose.

For holes remaining when the small Pox are gone.

Running of the eares, how to help it.

For stopping of the nostrills, to help it.

For hoarsenesse remaining when the Pox are gone.

For filthy and moist scabs after the Pox are gone.

Some other few additionall observations concerning the passages in this latter Treatise.

A Preservative against the infection of the air, and the Plague, often approved by Pope Adrian, and many others of great rank and credit.

I have also set down a red Cordiall water, very good against infection, which I had also from that noble friend.

Severall opinions against wearing of Arsenick Amulets, as Preservatives against the Plague.

Causes of the Plague.

Signes of the Plague.

The infection of the Plague entereth into a man after this sort.

The Cure of the Plague.

For the Plague.

Another.

Another.

Another for botches, boyls, and tokens.

Experiments tried by my selfe.

For the Plague.

Another excellent approved Remedy.

Another excellent sweating powder for the Plague.

The Cure of Diseases in Remote Regions.

The Calenture,

To know the Calenture.

To cure the Calenture.

The Taberdilla,

To know the Taberdilla.

The Cure of the Taberdilla.

The Espinlas

To know the Espinlas.

To cure the Espinlas.

Camera de Sangre.

The Cure of the Bloudie Flux.

The Erisipela,

To know the Erisipela.

To Cure the Erisipela.

The Tinoso or Scurvie.

To know the Scurvie.

Preservatives against the Scurvy.

To cure the Scurvy.

Other Observations concerning the Scurvy taken out of other Books.

Observations out of Sennertus, concerning the Scurvy.

Cures for severall Diseases.

A Water to make a man see within 40. dayes, though he have been blind seven years before, if he be under fiftie years of age.

For the Web in the Eye.

For Wind in the Side, that maketh the Head swim.

Contra Surditatem.

Contra lupum, venit saepe super oculum aut pedem.

Pro Cancro & Lupo.

Pro Oculis.

For Bleared Eyes.

Cornes.

Apostema.

Pro stomacho frigido.

Pro dolore stomachi.

For winde or gnawing in the Belly.

For the Small Pox.

For a stroke in the eye.

Bloudshed in the eye.

Pro Oculo & Aure.

For a Venomed sore.

To make a swelling break.

For the Squinsie.

For Biting of a mad Dog.

To breake a Botch.

For gnawings.

To increase Milk.

If milk be thick.

For Botches, Wounds, and Sores, a salve.

Venenum.

Pro Auribus.

Caput-purgium.

For the bloudy Flix.

Vermes Stomachi.

For a Felon.

For the Reines of the back.

For them that cannot goe upright for pain in their back and reines.

For the Stitch.

For the Stitch in the side.

To heal Wounds.

For swelling of Ioynts.

To knit Sinews or Veins that are kickt or broke.

Ut virga hominis nunquam erigatur.

Verrucae, Porri, ficus.

For Cornes.

For Warts.

For a Wound that bleedeth inwardly.

If men have any blood within them of any hurt.

Aqua pro scabie, tumore, & prurita.

An vulneratus vivat, vel non.

To destroy an Imposthume, in what place soever it be.

For Warts.

Oleu•… Nucum.

Unguentum Dialaehaeae optimum pr•… p•…dagra.

For the Collick and Stone.

Aqua propter ulcera & malum mortuum.

Aqua pro alceribus.

Capitis dolor.

For Bones broken in a mans Head.

Capitis dolor.

Corvi albi.

Ebrii.

Acetum.

Fistula.

Pro virga virili combusta cum muliere.

Contra exitum ani.

Contra fluxum.

Plaister of Paris.

An virgo corrupta.

Ut dens cadat.

Pro combusto cum muliere.

A Drink that healeth all Wounds without any Plaiste•… or 〈◊〉 Ointment, or without any taint most perfectly.

Unguentum genistae.

Unguentum viride is good pro erectione virgae, and for the mormale; no ointment worketh stronger then this.

Unguentum nigrum, for wounds, heating and burning.

Unguentum Rubrum.

Contra v•…mitum.

Fluxus sanguinis narium.

Contra Sciaticam.

F•…eckens of the face.

To know if a man be a Leper or no.

For ache in the loins.

For a scald Head.

Ad ornatum faciei.

If the Liver rot.

For stopping of the Pipes.

Aliud.

Aliud.

The Plague Water.

A Cordiall Water good for the Plague, Pox, Measels, all kind of Convulsions, Fevers, and all pain of the Stomack.

For a Child that hath the Ague.

For a burning Fever.

For the Iaundies black or yellow.

To bring down the Flowers.

To stay the Flowers.

For the Mother.

For the Stone.

For a cold, cough, Ptissick, or any defect of the Lungs.

For a Stitch.

For a Consumption.

For the Green sickness.

A speciall Water for all Sores.

For the trembling of the Heart.

For a Flux of the Womb.

A purging drink for superstuous humours, for Aches in the joynts, sinewes, and for Agues.

A pretious Eye-water for any disease of the Eyes, often proved.

The Tutia is thus prepared.

You must mix the Aloes with the water after this manner

To bring the Camphire to powder.

The use.

If there be any thing grow upon the eye.

For any Ague.

For an Ague.

Another.

To make Pills to cleanse the backe.

A Bath.

For the Cough of the Lungs, and defluxions.

To cause a woman to have her Flowers.

For the Cough of the Lungs.

For Cramp or Numnesse.

For a Cough, Winde, and a cold Stomack.

For a Cough and Consumption.

For a Cold Dropsie.

For the Dropsie.

For an Ague.

To comfort and strengthen the Ioynts and Sinewes.

For obstructions of Liver and Spleen.

For the Palsie in the head.

Oyle of Saint Johns Wort for ache and pain.

For the knitting together and strenthening of bones.

For the Courses.

A Cordiall excellent good for melansholy, panting and trembling of the heart, swounding, fainting, coldnesse, and rawnesse of the stomack, and also for many other greifs arising from a cold and moist complexion, •…ften proved with happy successe.

A sudden way to make up this excellent Cordiall.

Pills to purge flegm and Wind.

For the Gout.

For the Gout, My Lord Denni's Medicine.

Another, very good for the Gout.

To stay the Courses when they come down too violently.

For the Whites.

To keep the body soluble and to purifie the bloud.

For the green Sicknesse, or yellow Iaundies.

An Electuary for the green Sicknesse.

An excellent Powder for the green Sicknesse.

Another Medicine.

A singular purging Potion against the green Sicknesse, and all opilations of the Liver, and causeth young Maids to look fresh, and fair, and cherry-cheek'd, and will bring down their Courses, the stopping whereof causeth this greif, and it is good against all manner of itch, scabs, breaking out, and manginesse of the body, purifying the blood from all corruption.

For the green Sicknesse, or Iaundies.

For the green Sicknesse, and Iaundies.

The Steel for the Electuary is thus prepared.

The Electuary of Steel is made up thus.

For the green Sicknesse, or green Iaundies.

§

§

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A TREATISE CONCERNING THE PLAGUE AND THE POX,

Discovering as well the meanes how to preserve from the danger of these infectious Contagions, as also how to cure those which are infected with either of them.

LONDON, Printed by Gartrude Dawson, 1652.

The Printer to the Reader.

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THis Treatise hath pass'd the view and approbation, both of juditious Phisitians and Chirurgians, and hath been judged worthy to have a new vesture put upon him, and to be vindicated from the obscurity and darknesse it hath lain involved and eclipsed in this many yeares; being collected out of the Authorities of the most excellent, both former and later Writers, and confirmed, strengthened, and approved, by the late experiences of many well practitioned Chirurgians; being formerly commended to publick view, by the approbation of a late famous Servant, and Chirurgian to King Iames deceased; who seriously considering the facilenesse of providing the Medicines, with their approvednesse in a necessitous time, and in places remote, both from [Page] able Phisitians and Chirurgians, the danger of the present Infection requiring speedy help, to such as might have occasion to make use of these Medicines; not doubting, but the charitable intentions of the carefull Authour, publishing it on purpose for the publick good, shall find the acceptance of so necessitous a work, as is wished by

A. M.

The Author to the Reader.

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WHereas there are divers Receits set down in this Book, which are written in Latine, in Characters used by Phisitians and Apothecaries, which cannot so fitly be brought into our English phrase; and because their quantities are set down according to the Latine order observed in the making up their Receits prescribed, I have, for the better ease and understanding of the Reader, set down the signification of their weights and measures, according to their Characters.

A Handfull is written thus M. 1.

Half a Handfull thus M. ss.

A little small Handfull thus P. 1.

A Scruple thus ℈. 1.

Half a Scruple, x. Graines, or thus ℈. ss.

A Drachm thus ʒ. 1.

An Ounce thus. ℥. 1.

Half an Ounce, or half a Drachm ℥. ss. ʒ. ss.

A Grain thus Gra. 1.

A Drop thus Gut. 1.

[Page]The number of any thing thus Nu. 1. &c.

Half of any thing thus ss.

A Pound, or Pint, thus lib. 1.

Twenty Graines make a Scruple.

Three Scruples make a Drachm.

Eight Drachms make an Ounce

Twelve Ounces a Physick Pound.

Ana. is, of either of them so much.

P. ae. is, equall parts, or parts alike.

S. a. Secundum Artem, according to Art.

So much as shall suffice is marked thus q. s

A defensative against the Plague.

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The first Treatise

CHAP. I. What the Plague is.

THe antient Phisitians in times past have greatly doubted, what the essentiall cause of this disease, which we commonly call the Plague or Pestilence, should be; yet all doe agree, that it is a pernitious and contagious Fever, and reckoned to be one of the number of those which are called Epidemia, chiefly proceeding of adusted and melancholy bloud, which may be easily perceived, by the extream heat and inflammation, which inwardly they doe feel, that are infected therewith; first assaulting the heart, and astonishing the vitall spirits, as also by the exteriour Carbunkles and botches which it produceth; whose malignity is such, both in young and old, rich and poor, noble and ignoble, that using all the meanes, which by Art can, or may be devised, yet in some it will in no sort give place, untill it hath by death conquered the party infected therewith.

CHAP. II. Cause of the Plague.

THere are divers causes whereof this disease may proceed, as sundry Writers doe alledge, as by over great and unnaturall heat and drought, by great rain and inundations of waters, or by great store of rotten and stinking bodies, [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] both of men and beasts, lying upon the face of the earth unburied, as in the time of warres hath been seen, which doth so corrupt the air, as that thereby our Corn, Fruits, Hearbs, and Waters, which we daily use for our food and sustenance, are infected: also it may come by some stinking dunghils, filthy and standing pooles of water, and unsavory smels which are near the places where we dwell, or by thrusting a great company of people into a close, narrow, or streight room, as most commonly we see in Ships, common Gaoles, and in narrow and close lanes and streets, where many people doe dwell together, and the places not orderly kept clean and sweet. But most commonly, in this our time, it is dispersed amongst us, by accompanying our selves with such as either have, or lately have had the disease themselves, or at least have been conversant with such as have been infected therewith: But for the most part it doth come by receiving into our custody some clothes, or such like things, that have been used about some infected body, wherein the infection may lie hidden a long time, as hath been too too often experimented, with repentance too late in many places, It may also come by Dogs, Cats, Pigs, and Weasels, which are prone and apt to receive and carry the infection from place to place. But howsoever it doth come, let us assure our selves, that it is a just punishment of God, laid upon us for our manifold sins and transgressions against his divine Majesty: for as Seneca saith, Quicquid patimur ab alto venit, What crosses or afflictions soever we suffer, it cometh from the Lord, either for a triall of our faith, or a punishment for our sins. Wherefore to distinguish any farther thereof I think it needlesse, for my intent is in breif sort, so exactly as I can, to shew the meanes how to prevent the same, as also how to cure it when we are infected. But before I enter to treat thereof, I think it not amisse, to shew what forewarnings and tokens are given us before hand of the coming thereof, thereby the better to prevent the same by prayer and repentance.

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CHAP. III. Warnings of the Plague to come.

AVicen, a noble Physitian saith, that when wee see the naturall course of the ayre, and seasons of the year to be altered, as when the spring time is cold, clowdy, and dry, the harvest time stormy, and tempestuous, the mornings and evenings to be very cold, and at noon extream hot, these do foreshew the Plague to come. Also when we see fiery impressions in the firmament, especially in the end of summer, as comets and such like, and that in the begining of harvest we see great store of little frogs, red to ades, and myse on the earth abounding extraordinarily: or when in summer we see great store of toades creeping on the earth having long tailes, of an ashy color on their backs, and their bellies spotted and of divers colours, and when we see great store of gnats swiming on the waters, or flying in great companies together, or when our trees and hearbs do abound with Caterpillars, Spiders, Moaths &c. which devoure the leaves on the trees and hearbs on the earth, it sheweth the ayre to be corrupt, and the Plague shortly after to follow. Also by the beasts of the field we may perceive it (especially sheep) which will go mourning with their heads hanging down towards the ground, and divers of them dying without any manifest cause known unto us. Also when we see young Children flock themselves together in companies, and then will faine some one of their company to be dead amongs them, and so will solemnize the buriall in a mournfull sort, this is a token which hath been well observed in our age to foreshew great mortality at hand. Also when we see rivers of water to overflow without any manifest cause, or suddenly vanish away and become dry: And when clear well-springs do suddenly become foule and troubled. Also when the small-Pox doth generally abound both in young and old people, all these do foreshew the Plague to come.

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CHAP. IIII. Sheweth how to prevent the Plague.

THere are three principall meanes how to prevent this contagious disease: The first and chiefest is to acknowledge our manifold sins and wickedness unto almighty God our heavenly Father, with a hearty repentance and amendment of our former sins committed against his divine majestie.

The second means is to fly far off from the place infected, and as Rondoletius saith, not over hastily to return thither again for fear of an after-clap: which saying is confirmed by Valetius in these words, Non enim morietur in bello, qui non est in illo: and the farther from it, the safer shall we be, yet were it a very uncharitable course that all which are of abillity should do so, for then how should the poor be relieved, and good orders observed: but for Children it were best to send them far off from the place, because their bodies are most apt to receive the infection, as also for that they cannot so continually use antidots and preservatives, which by their great heat may indanger them almost so much as the disease it self.

The third meanes consisteth chiefly in three points, which are these: Order, Diet, and Physicall helps. For the first you shall have a care that your houses be kept clean and sweet, not suffering any foule and filthy clothes or stinking things to remain in or about the same: and in summer season to deck your windowes, and strow your floors with sweet and wholsom hearbs, floures, and leaves, of Mints, Balme, Penniroyall, Lavender, Time, Majoram, red-Roses, Carnations, Gelliflowers and such like for your windowes, your floors to be strowed with green Rushes, and Mints, Oaken and Willow leaves, Vine leaves and such like: your windowes which stand towards the North and East, do you alwaies keep open in the day time, if the ayre be clear, and that no infected and unsavory smell be near the same, as Fogs, dunghils, &c. and every morning before you open either your doors, or windowes, as also in the evening when you go to bed, cause a good fire to be made in your Chamber, and burn some odoriferous o [...] [Page] sweet perfumes in the middest thereof, as hereafter I will shew you, or in stead thereof some Juniper, Frankincense, Bay leaves, Rosemary, Lavender, Majoram, or such like, which you must alwaies have dried in a readinesse, and so in the fume or smoke thereof to breath and perfume the clothes which you are to weare.

A good perfume in summer season.

℞. Rose water and Vinegar, of either six spoonfulls: Rinds of sower Citrons and Lemons, Bay-leaves, of either the weight of two pence which is ℈. i. Camphire, the weight of three pence, which is ʒ. ss.

The hearbs and rinds must be dried and put alltogether in a perfuming pan, or instead thereof a peuter dish, set on a chafer of coles, will serve the turn.

Another good perfume in winter.

℞. Red-Roses Majoram and Myrtles, of either a little handfull: Callamint, Juniper berries, Laudanum, Benjamin, Frankincense, of either ʒ. i. which is the weight of seven pence.

The hearbs, berries, and Roses being dried, must be made in grosse powder, as also the gumms, and so mixed together, and when yee list, cast some part thereof on a chafer of coales, and receive the fume thereof.

CHAP. V.

NOw having received the fume as aforesaid, before you go forth of your chamber, eat some Cordial electuary or preservative, as hereafter you shall find choise, which I have alwais used with good and happy success, after taking of the Cordial wash your face and hands with clean water, wherein you must put a little Vinegar, and then if you list, you may break your fast wirh some good bread and butter, and in winter season a potch'd Egg is good eaten with some Vinegar, and for plethorick [Page] and melanchole bodies, it were good to drink a draught of wormewood wine, in the morning fasting, because it resisteth putrefaction in the plethorick, and purgeth bilous matter in the melancholie.

An excellent good preservative which I have alwaies used with good successe.

℞. Conserve of Roses and Borrage floures, of either two ounces: Minardus Mithridate, Andromachus triacle, of either half an ounce: Dioscordium, two drachms, Dialkermes one drachme, Powder of the seed of Citrons pilled, one drachme, Sirrup of Lemons and sower Citrons, of either halfe an ounce.

Compound all these together in the form of an opiat, you may eat hereof every morning the quantity of three beanes, and drink a draught of Rennish wine, Beer, or Ale after it: but for Children and such as are of tender years, so much as a bean thereof is sufficient, and give them onely Beer or Ale after it: the taking hereof every second or third day will suffice, if you go not into any suspected company.

Another excellent good preservative.

℞. Kernils of Wallnuts and Figs, of either four ounces: Leaves of Rue, one ounce and half, Tormentill roots, four drachms, Rind of sowr Citrons, one drachme, right Bolarmoniak, six drachms, fine Myrrh, two scruples, Saffron, one scruple, Salt, half a drachm: Sirrup of Citrons and Lemons, four ounces.

The hearbs, roots, and rinds must be dried, the nuts must be blanched, and the bolarmoniack must be made in fine powder, and then wash'd in the water of Scabios, and dried againe, you must pound the figgs and wallnuts in a stone morter severally by themselves very small, all the rest must be made in fine powder, and so mix them altogether in the morter, and then add thereto sirrup by little and little, and so incorporate them altogether: you may give this in the same quantity, and in like sort as the other before.

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Another very good.

℞. Of the confection aforesaid made with Nutts ℥. iiii. Minardus mithridate, four drachms, Andromachus Triacle, ʒ ii. fine terra Sigillata, four scruples, Sirrup of Limons, ℥. i.

Compound all these together in the morter, as the other before, you may give hereof the weight of a groat or six pence, every second or third day, and drink a draught of Rennish or white wine after it in Winter season, but in the heat of the yeer, Sorrel water is best, and in the Spring Scabios or Carduus Benedictus water.

Also, so much Triacle of Andromachus description eaten every morning as a bean, with a little conserve of Roses, is a very excellent good preservative.

Valetius doth greatly commend the taking of three or four grains of the Bezar stone every morning, in a spoonfull of Scabios water.

I cannot here sufficiently commend the Electuarie called Dioscordium, which is not onely good to resist the infection, but doth also expell the venemous matter of those which are infected, being taken every morning and evening the quantity of a bean, and drinke a draught of Rennish or White wine after it in winter season, but in Summer a draught of Beer or Ale is best.

In strong and rusticall bodies, and such as are dayly labourers, Garlick onely eaten in the morning with some Butter and Salt at breakfast, drinking a cup of beer or ale after it, hath been found to be very good, which is greatly commended by Galen, who calleth it the poor mans Triacle, but in the sanguine, daintie, and idle bodies it may not be used, because it over-heateth the bloud, causeth head-ach, and universally inflameth the whole body.

CHAP. VI.

NOw when you have taken any of the foresaid Preservatives, it were good and necessary to wear upon the Region of the heart, some sweet Bag or quilt that hath power to [Page] resist venome, and also to carry in your hand some sweet Pomander, Nodule, or Nosegay, that will comfort the heart, resist venom, and recreate the vitall spirits, as here following is specified and set down.

An excellent quilt or Bag.

℞. Arsenike cristaline, ℥. i. Diamargaritum frigidum, ℈ ii. Diambrae, ℈ i.

You must grinde the Arsenike in small powder, and then with some of the infusion of Gum Dragagant in Rose water, you must make a paste, then spread it on a cloth which must be six inches long, and five inches broad, and spread it thick: then cover it with another cloth, and so quilt it together, which being done, fasten it in another bag of crimson taffetie or Sarse [...]et, and so wear it against the heart all the day time, but at night leave it off: and here you must take heed, that when you sweat, you doe take it away, for otherwise it will cause the skin to amper a little. There are some writers which doe utterly forbid the wearing of Arsenike, but thus much I can say, that I have given this bag unto divers to wear, with most happie and good successe, for never did I yet know any one that hath worn this bag, and used any of the Electuaries aforesaid, that hath been infected with the plague, but for any inconvenience or accident that hath happened thereby, I never found any hitherto, other then the ampring of the skin as aforesaid.

Another Bag.

℞. Ireos, ℥ ss. Calamus aromat. Ciperus, ana. ʒ. i. ss. Storax Calam. root of Angelica, ana. ʒ. iii, Cloves, Mace, ana ʒ. i. Red roses dried, ʒ. iii. Pellemountain, Penniroyall, Calamint, Elder floures, ana. ʒ. i ss. Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Yellow Sanders, ana ʒ. i. Nardi Italicae, ʒ. i. Amber greece and Musk, ana. six grains.

You must pound all these in powder, and then quilt them in a bag of Crimson [...]affatie as aforesaid.

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A Pomander good in the Summer time.

℞. The rind of Citrons, Red Roses, Nenuphare Roses, Yellow sanders, ana ʒ. ss. Storax liquid, Benjamin, ana. ʒ. i. Myrrh, ℈. ii. Ladanum, ʒ. i. ss. Musk and Amber, ana. six grains.

Powder all that is to be powdered, and then work them together in a hot morter with a hot pestell, adding unto it in the working some of the Musselage of dragagant dissolved in sweet Rose water, or rose vinegar, and so make your Pomander.

Another good one for the winter time.

℞. Storax liquid, Benjamin, Storax calamint, Ladanum, and Myrrh, ana, half a drachm, Cloves one scruple, Nutmegs, Cinnamon, of each half a scruple. Red Roses, Yellow Sanders, Lignum aloes, and Ireos, of each half a dram. Calamus aromaticus, rind of a Citron, ana. four grains, Amber greece, Musk and Civet, of each six grains.

You may make up this as the other before with some Musselage of the infusion of Gum dragagant, infused in Rosewater.

A good Nodule for the Summer season.

℞. Floures of Violets, red Roses, and Nenuphare, of each one drachm, Red, White, and Yellow sanders, of each half a drachm. Camphire, xii graines.

Cause all these to be beaten in grosse powder, then knit them all together in a peece of Taffetie, and when you will use it, then wet it in Rose water and a little Vinegar, and so smell to it.

Another Nodule for the Winter season.

℞. The dried leaves of Mints, Majoram, Time, Penniroyall, Lavender, Pellemountain and Balm, of each a little handfull. Nutmegs, Cloves, Cinnamon, Angelica roots, Lignum aloes, of each one drachm. Saffron, two scruples.

[Page]Cause all these to be infused in Rose-water and Vinegar one whole night, then wet a spunge in the liquor thereof, and knit it in a peece of Taffaty, or your handkerchief, whereunto you must smell oftentimes.

A Nosegay for the same purpose.

℞. Hearb grace, three branches: Rosemary, Majoram, Mints, and Thime, of either one branch: Red-Rose buds and Carnations, of either three or four.

Make your nosegay herewith, then sprinkle him over with Rose-water, and some rose-Vinegar, and smell often unto it. Also when you suspect to go into any dangerous or infected company, do you alwaies carry in your mouth a peice of the root of Angelica, the rind of a Citron dried, or a great Clove, which must be first infused or steeped one whole night in rosewater and Vinegar.

CHAP. VII.

FOr that there is not a greater enemy to the health of our bodies then costiveness, both in the time of the Plague and otherwise, I have here set down how and by what meanes you may keep your self soluble, which you must use once four and twenty hours, if otherwise you have not the benefit of nature by custome.

A Suppository.

Take two spoonfulls of Honey, and one spoonfull of Bay-Salt small pounded, boyle them together untill it grow thick, alwaies stirring it in the boyling, then take it from the fire, and if you list you may add one drachm of Ihera picra simplex unto it, and so stirre them well together, and when it is almost cold, make up your suppositories of what length and bignesse you list: and when you minister any, you must first annoint it with Butter or Sallet oyle: you may keep these a whole year if you put them in Barrowes mort or grease, and so cover them up close therein.

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A good Glister.

℞. Mallowes, Mercury, Beets, Violets, Red-Fennell, of either one handfull: Seeds of Fennell, Annis, Coriander, of either one drachm.

Boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of Water, untill half the water be consumed, then straine it, and keep it in a glasse close stopt untill you need, for it will keep a whole week. Take of the same decoction, a pint.

℞. Mel Rosarum, or common Honey, one spoonfull: Oyle of Violets or oyle of Olives, three ounces, Salt, one drachm, The yolk of an Egg or two.

Mixe all these together in a morter and so give it warm in the morning, or two hours before supper: and if you add unto this one ounce of Diacatholicon it will be the better.

Raisins laxative how to make them.

℞. White-Wine, three pints and a half, Senuae, half a pound, Fine white sugar, one pound, Currants, two pound. You must infuse the Senuae in the wine in a pot close stopt, and let it stand in a warm place four and twenty hours, then strein it and add to the straining the Currants, being clean pickt and washt, and lastly the Sugar, boyle all together on an easie fire, untill the wine be consumed, having care that you do alwaies stirr it about in the boyling for feare of burning, then take them from the fire, and put them up into a clean galley pot, you may eat one spoonfull or two of them a little before dinner, at any time.

A good Oyntment to keep one Sollible.

The gaule of an Oxe, Oyle of Violets, of either one ounce: Sheeps [...]allow, six draehms.

Boyle them together on a soft fire untill they be incorporated, then take it from the fire and adde thereto Alloes cica [...]ine, one ounce. Bay-Salt half an ounce.

[Page]The Alloes and Salt must be both made into fine powder before you put them into the oyle, then stirr them together untill it be cold, and when you are disposed to have a stoole, then annoint your fundament therewith, both within side and without, and if you annoint your navell therewith, it will work the better.

Good pills to keep one soluble, and they do also resist the Pestilence.

℞. Alloes Cicatrine, one ounce, Chosen Myrrh, three drachms, Saffron, one drachm and half, Amber Greece, six graines: Sirrup of Lemons or Citrons, so much as shall be sufficient to make the masse.

You must grinde the Aloes, Myrrhe, and Saffron into small powder severally by themselves, then incorporate them together with the sirrup: you may give half a drachme or two scruples thereof in the evening half an hour before supper twise or thrise in a week: Rases would have you to take half a drachme or two scruples of these Pills every day, without using any other preservative at all, and he hath great reason so to esteem of them, for Galen, Avicen, and all ancient Writers in Physick do hold opinion, that Aloes doth not onely comfort, but purge the stomack from all raw and chollerick humors, and doth also purge and open the veines called Miserayick, and resisteth putrefact on: Myrrh doth altogether resist, neither will it suffer putrefaction in the stomack: Saffron doth comfort the heart, and hath also a propriety in it to carry any medicine that is given therewith unto the heart, but to conclude, these Pills will purge all superfluous humors in the stomack, and principall members, and preserveth the bloud from corruption.

CHAP. VIII.

I Must here give you to understand that the infection doth oftentimes lie hidden within us, without any manifest sign or knowledge thereof at the first, and therefore were it good for sanguine bodies, and such as do abound with bloud, in the [Page] summer season to draw six or eight ounces of bloud out of the Basilica vein in the right arme, which is a good meanes to prevent a further danger, (as Avicen witnesseth) but for full and plethorick bodies, it were best to purge themselves once in seven or eight daies with some easie and gentle purgation, as hereafter [...] will shew you: but for leane and spare bodies, once in fourteen dayes will be enough at most: for wisely saith Rondoletius, that it is not onely the venemous and contagious ayre which we receive that doth kill us, but it is the present communicating of that contagion with some superfluous humours in our bodies, as in his treatise De Peste appeareth: therfore now will I shew you how to purge the body.

Pills good to purge.

℞. Alloes Cicatrine, ten drachms, Agarick of the whitest, ℥. iiii. Myrrh, Mastick, of either two drachms: Saffron two scruples.

Make these into fine powder, then compound them together in a morter, with so much Oximell simplex, Sirrup of Lemons, or of Staecados, as shall be sufficient, you may give one drachm, or a drachm and half of these Pills, half an hour before supper: but for a cholerick body, you must leave out two drachms of the Agarick in making of the receipt, and in place thereof add two drachms of Rubarb, and for the melancholie, two drachms of Epithimum, and give the same quantity in weight.

A good purging potion.

℞ Raisins, the stones being pickt out and washt, of either one ounce: Polipode of the Oak, Elecampane root dried, roots of wild small Sorrel, Succory roots cleansed, of either half an ounce: Leaves of Burrage, Bugloss, Burnet, Scabios, Morsus diaboli, of either a little handfull: Floures of Burrage, Bugloss, Rosemary, Violets, Broom, of either a little handfull: Seeds of Fennell, sowr Citrons, of either two scruples: Shaving of Harts horn, half a drachm.

Boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of faire water untill [Page] half be consumed, then strain it. Take of the decoction aforesaid, three ounces.

Rubarb, two drachms and half, Cinnamon, half a drachm.

Slice them both, and put them with the liquor in a close cup, and so let it stand to infuse in a warm place twelve hours, then strain it out strongly, and add thereto one ounce of the Sirrup of Maiden-haire, and so drink it warm in the morning about six of the clock, and refrain from meat, drink, or sleep two hours after it, this is good in lean and spare bodies: you may for the phlegmatick body, add in the infusion, one drachm of Aggarick Trosciscated.

A purging powder for such as cannot take Pills.

℞. Alloes Ciccatrine, one ounce, Myrrh, Cinnamon, of either two drachms, Saffron, one scruple.

Make them all in fine powder, and give one drachm in a draught of White-wine.

Floures stopt, how to provok them.

For that women which have not their naturall course o [...] them, are most prone to receive and take the infection, I have here set down good Pills, which I have alwaies found excellent not onely for that purpose, but will also resist the danger of infection.

℞. Alloes Ciccatirne, one ounce, Roots of Gentian, Aristolochia rotunda, Dittander, Saffron, of either half a drachm: Roots of garden Madder, Methridate, of either one drachm.

Cause them all to be ground in small powder, then mix it with the Methridate and some sirrup of Artemesia, or Mugwort, give one drachm of these Pills every morning twelve dayes togerher, or untill her tearms break.

Issues commended against the Plague.

IN plethorick and full bodies, I have found nothing more safer in the time of the Plague, then to make them an artificial [Page] Issue, either in the leg or arm, for never hitherto have I known any one which hath had an Issue, or Ulcer running on him that hath been infected with the plague. Palmarius and Forestus, doe both affirm it to be true and certain, but here some ignorant people doe hold opinion that having once an Issue, he must be constrained to keep it alwaies, which is most erronious, for then those which have had Ulcers running upon them, some six, ten, yea sixteen yeers, may not be cured without some Issue to be made in some other place, but therein they deceive themselves, for my self by good proof have often found the contrary in divers people which I have cured, some six, some ten, yea sixteen yeers past, and yet to this day doe remain in perfect good health without any Issues.

CHAP. IX. What Diet we ought to keep.

FOr our diet as Hippocrates teacheth us, we must have a care not to exceed in eating and drinking but to keep a mean therein, and in any case to beware of surfeting and drunkenness, which are enemies both to the body and soule, but as we may not exceed in eating and drinking, so to endure great hunger and thirst is most dangerous, our meat ought to be of a facile and easie digestion, partly tending to a drying qualitie; as Cocks, Capons, Hens, Pullets, Partridge, Pheasants, Quailes, Pigeons, Rabbets, Kid, Veal, Mutton, Birds of the Mountains, and such like; but Beef, Pork, Venison, Hare and Goats flesh is to be refused, and so are all water fowls, as Duck, Swan, Goose, Widgen, Teal, and such like, because they are hard to digest, and do increase ill blood, and naughtie juyce in the bodie: Lambs flesh, because of his exceeding moisture is also to be refused, Eggs in the Summer not good, but in Winter tolerable: All Fishes which are of a hard flesh, whether they be of the Sea, or fresh Rivers are to be allowed. In fresh Rivers the Perch, Barble, Gudgeon, Loch, Cool, Trout, and Pike are good; and for Sea fish, the Gilthed, Turbet, Sole, Rochet, Gurnard, Lobster, Crab, Praunes, Shrimps, Whiting, and such like eaten with vinegar. [Page] There are some Authors which hold opinion, that Fish is better to be eaten then flesh in the great fervent heat of the year, because they doe make a more cold bloud in the body then flesh; another reason is, because they doe live under the water, they are not infected with any contagion of the aire, as Beasts and birds may be, and therefore more wholsome, but in my judgement flesh is more wholsome, because it doth-breed a more pure, and fine Juyce in the body then any Fish whatsoever; your bread ought to be made of pure wheat, not too new, nor too old, but of one dayes baking, or two at most is best: Rie bread is to be eschewed, because of his great moisture: your drink is best beer or ale, not too strong or new, but the staler and clearer it is the better, at your meals a draught or two of Claret wine is tolerable, but in hot weather it were good to allay it with a little water, for wine doth warm the stomack, help digestion, and comfort the heart.

For your Pottage you may take in the Summer.

Parsly, Lettice, Sorrell, Endive, Succorie, Sperage, Hopbuds, Burnet, Burrage, Buglosse, Thime, Mints, Hysop, but in Winter, Balm, Bittanie, Thime, Marigold, Hysop, Majoram, Mints and Rue are good. For your Sallets take Pimpernell, Purslane, Mints, Sorrell, Hore-hound, Yong cole, Hop▪ buds, Sperage, Thime, Tops of Fennell, Tarregon, Lettice, and Water-cresses are good.

Capers are greatly commended being preserved in Vinegar, and eaten with a little oyle and vinegar, and so are Olives very good also.

For your sauce, the juyce of a Limon, Citron, or Orange is best, the juyce of Sorrell and Vinegar is also good.

All raw fruits are to be refused, except those which tend to sour tast, as Pomgranates, damask Prunes, Pippins, red and sour Cherries, and Wallnuts, Quinces, and Peares preserved are very good eaten after meals.

All kind of Pulse is to be refused, as Beans, Pease, and such like, because they increase winde, and make raw humours and ill juyce in the bodie.

[Page]Refrain from Garlick, Onyons, Leeks, Pepper, Mustard, and Rocket, because they doe over-heat the body, make adustion of the bloud, and cause fumes to ascend into the head.

Cheese is not good, because it doth ingender grosse and thick humors. Milk is also to be refused, because it doth quickly corrupt in the stomack.

CHAP. X. Sheweth what Exercise and Order is to be kept.

YOu must beware of all vehement and immoderate exercise, which doth provoke sweat, as is Tennis, dancing, leaping, running, foot-ball, hurling, and such like, because they doe over-much heat the body, and open the Pores of respiration, whereby the infected aire hath the more scope to enter our bodies, but moderate exercise is very convenient, the use of hot houses at this time I thinke very dangerous, because it doth too much open the pores.

Walk not into the open ayre in the morning before the Sun hath had some power to cleanse and clear the same, and in any case goe not abroad when great fogs and mists are upon the earth, for it is dangerous: but if urgent occasions move you, then before you goeforth of your doors be sure to eat some preservative first, and then take some good and odoriferous Pomander, Nodule, or Nosegay in your hand, as before is shewed you. The extream heat of the day is likewise to be refused to walk in, because it chafeth the bloud; as also in the evening after the Sun is set, for then unsavory and unwholsome Fogs arise out of the earth, and in any case if you can avoid it come not neer any any place infected, but use to walk in the open aire and dry ground.

Use Venus combates moderately, but none at all were better, the best time to use them is three or four hours after supper, before you sleep, and then rest upon them.

Beware of anger, fear, and pensiveness of the minde, for by their means the body is made more apt to receive the infection.

Use pleasant and merry recreations, either with musick, [Page] pleasant company to talke withall, or reading some good books.

Bewar of sleeping at noon, but specially in the Winter season, but in Summer to take after dinner a nap of half an hour or an hour is tollerable in elderly bodies.

Watch not long in the evenings but two or three hours after supper is a good time to take your rest.

CHAP. XI. Teacheth what orders Magistrates, and Rulers of Cities and Townes, should cause to be observed,

FIrst, To command that no stinking dunghills be suffered near the City.

Secondly, Every evening and morning in hot weather to cause cold water to be cast in the streets, especially where the infection is, and every day to cause the streets to be kept clean and sweet, and cleansed from all filthy things which lye in the same.

Thirdly, And whereas the infection is entered, there to cause fires to be made in the streets every morning and evening, and if some Frankincense, Pitch, or some other sweet thing be burnt therein, it will be much the better.

Fourthly, Suffer not any Doggs, Catts, or Pigs to run about the streets, for they are very dangerous, and apt to carry the infection from place to place.

Fifthly, Command that the excrements and filthy things which are voided from the infected places be not cast into the streets or rivers which are daily in use to make drink, or dresse meat.

Sixtly, That no Chirurgians, or Barbars which use to let bloud, do cast the same into the streets or rivers.

Seventhly, That no Vauts or Privies be then emptied, for it is a most dangerous thing.

Eighthly, That all [...]nholders do every day make clean their stables, and cause the dung and filth therein to be carried away out of the City: for by suffering it in their houses, as some do use to do, a whole week or a fortnight, it doth so putrifie that [Page] when it is removed, there is such a stinking and unwholsome smell, as is able to infect the whole street where it is.

Ninthly, To command that no Hemp or [...]lax be kept in water near the City or Town, for that will cause a very dangerous and infectious savour.

Tenthly to have a speciall care, that good and wholsome Victuals and Corn be sold in the markets, and so to provide, that no want thereof be in the City, and for such as have not wherewithall to buy necessary food, that there to extend their charitable and godly devotion: for there is nothing that will more increase the Plague, then want and scarsity of necessary food.

Eleventhly, To command that all those which do visite and attend the sick, as also all those which have the sicknesse on them, and do walk abroad, that they do carry something in their hands, thereby to be known from other people. And here I must advertise you of one thing more which I had almost forgotten (which is) that when the infection is but in few places, there to keep the people in their houses, not suffering any one of them to go abroad, and so to provide, that all such necessaries as they shall need may be brought unto them during the time of their visitation: and when it is staied, then to cause all the clothes, bedding, and other such things as were used about the sick, to be all burnt, although at the charge of the rest of the Inhabitants you buy them all new, for fear least the danger which may ensue thereby, do put you to a far greater charge and grief: all these aforesaid things are most dangerous, and may cause a generall infection, to the destroying of a whole City, and therefore I do wish that great care be had thereof.

CHAP. XII. Doth shew what you must do when you go to visit the sick.

FIrst before you enter into the house, command that a great fire be made in the chamber where the sick lieth, and that some odoriferous perfume be burnt in the midest of the chamber, and before you go to him, eat some cordiall preservative, and smother your clothes with some sweet perfume, then wet [Page] your temples, eares, nose, and mouth, with Rose-water and Vinegar mixt together, then take in your mouth a peice of the root of Angelica, the rind of a sower Citron, or a Clove prepared as before is shewed, and have some Nosegay, Nodule, or Pomander, appropriate in your hand, which you must alwaies smell unto, so may you the more bouldlier perform your intent: but herewithall you must have a speciall care, that during the time you are with the sick, you stand not betwixt the sick body and the fire, for that is dangerous; because that the fire of his nature draweth all vapors unto it self; but keep you alwaies on the contrary side, so that the sick may be betwixt you and the fire: and for such as are to let any sick infected body to bleed, it were good they did cause the keeper of the sick body to lay open that arme or legg which is to be let bloud before he approach near: the reason is, for that most commonly all that are sick in this contagious disease, are for the most part in a sweat, and therefore suddenly to receive the breath thereof, would be very dangerous.

Now when you have been with any one so infected, before you go into the company of any whole and sound people, it were necessary you do stand by a good fire, having all the clothes about you which you did wear when you were with the sick, and then turn and aire your selfe well thereby, so shall you be sure the lesse to endanger others by your company. Thus have I as breefly as I can devise set down all the ordinary meanes which my self have used, and by others known to be used for preserving you from this contagious and dangerous disease, which in the most part of people will suffice, but for such as dwell whereas they may have the counsell of a learned Physitian, I do wish them to take his advice, especially for purging and letting bloud, because none can so exactly set down in writing the perfect course thereof (which may be understood rightly of the common sort) so well as he which hath the sight of the body: for that many bodies are oftentimes troubled with some one humour abounding more then another, which here to treat of would be too tedious, neither can it profit the common people, for whose sakes I have taken this paines: and now will I shew the signes to know when one is [Page] infected therewith, as also which are the laudable signes, and which are the contrary, and lastly the meanes (by God his assistance) how for to cure the same.

CHAP. XIII. Sheweth the signes of infection.

THe signes and tokens hereof are divers, as first, it is perceived by the suddain weaknesse, loosing and overthrowing of our naturall strength, without any manifest cause thereof going before, and sometimes it doth begin with a gnawing and biting in the mouth of the stomack, the pulse will grow weak, feeble, and unequall, with a great streightnesse and heavinesse about the heart, as if some heavie burthen or weight were layd thereon, with shortness of breathing, vomiting, or at least a great desire to vomit, great pain in the head: insatiable thirst proceeding of their great interior heat: sluggishnes, and universal faintness of all the body, with a great desire to sleep, and an astonishment of the mind and vitall spirits: and for the most part they complain of a great paine which is felt in some one place or places of their bodies, where the botch or blain is by nature intended to be thrust forth, yet some at the first have them appearing: and for the most part, they are taken at the first with a sharp and rigorous feaver.

Good signes.

When the botch or Carbunkle cometh out in the beginning of the sicknesse with a red colour, and yellowish round about it, and that it doth quicklycome to maturation, the feaver to cease, and the party findeth himself eased of his grief, and quickned in his spirits, these are good and laudable signes of recovery.

Evill signes.

When the botch at the first commeth out blackish, or black in colour, also when the botch is opened, the flesh within doth look blew, and that then there appear not any matter or quitture [Page] in the wound, but as it were a spume or froth issuing out thereof, are ill and deadly signes,

When the botch waxeth so hard that by no means it will come to suppuration, but resisteth whatsoever is done unto it for the furthering thereof, and so returneth in againe into the inward parts suddenly, is a token of sudden death at hand, and so it is if either before or after it is broken it look of a blewish colour, or of divers colours, like the Rainbow, round about it.

When the Carbunckle or Blain doth suddenly dry up, as if it were scorcht with the fire, and that the place round about it doth shew to be of a wannish blew colour, is a deadly sign: if in the skin appear green or black spots, the excrements of divers colours with worms in it either dead or living, having a vile stinking savour, and spitteth stinking and bloudy matter, doth betoken death.

When the sick complaines of great and extream heat in the inward parts, and yet cold outwardly, the eyes staring or weeping, the face terrible, the said excrements or urin passing away, and the party not knowing thereof, are evill signes.

When in the fourth or seventh day they are taken with a frensie, or do fall into an extream bleeding at nose, or have a great flux with a continuall vomiting, or a desire to vomit and do it not, extream pain at the heart, watchfullness, and the strength clean gone, are deadly signes. When the party being very sick, yet saith he feeleth himself well, his eyes sunk deep in his head, and full of tears, when he thinks all things do stink, his nailes looking blew, the nose sharp, and as it were crooked, the breath thick and short with a cold sweat in the brest and face, and turning and playing with the clothes, the pulse creeping or scarcely to be felt, and greivous unto him to speak, these are infallible signes of death at hand. Some, before any of these signes are perceived, do dy, and some likewise which have divers of them appearing, and yet do escape, such is the uncertainty of this disease: there are many other symptoms which do happen in this contagious disease, which would be too tedious to declare, but these as the chiefest may suffice.

The end of the first Treatise.

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The Second Treatise, shewing the meanes how to cure the Plague.

CHAP. I.

WHen we perceive any to be infected with this contagious disease, we must with all possible speed seek all the meanes we can how to prevent the malignity thereof, whose property is at the first to assault the principall part, which is the heart, and therefore requires present help; for unlesse something be done within eight or four and twenty houres, little will it then prevail to attempt it, for by that time nature is either subdued, and clean overthrown, or else hath thrust the same to the exterior parts, or otherwise digested it: yet may we not neglect at any time, to use all the meanes we can, in helping and furthering of nature to the uttermost of our indeavour, because we doe oftentimes see nature so wearied, and weakened in expelling of this venemous matter, that unlesse some help be added to assist and comfort her, the party, for lack thereof, dyeth, which otherwise might be saved: For I have oftentimes seen by diligent helping of nature, that to be effected and brought to good passe, which I have judged most desperate. There are foure intentions required for the curing thereof; that is, by bloud-letting, Cordials, sweat and purging: but the manner how to execute the same, hath bred great contention both amongst the old and later Writers, which here to treat of were too tedious, for unto the learned it were needlesse, and for the commonalty little would it availe them, therefore in brief will I shew you what I have observed touching the cure.

First, if it be in a Plethorick, sanguine, and strong body, and hath pain in the head, great heat at the heart, thirstnesse, the pulse strong, and labouring, or beating strongly, and hath great and large veines appearing; these ought presently to be let bloud in that side where yee perceive the greif doth proffer [Page] it selfe to come forth, and not visibly appearing, tending to maturation: For then we may not draw bloud, but use all other meanes we can devise, in helping nature to expell it, neither may you draw bloud, if the party have a flix or lask (which is an evill sign) in the beginning of the disease, for by that meanes you shall hinder nature greatly, but onely give the party Cordials; neither may you stop the flix in the beginning, but if it be extream, and that it stay not the second day, then must you give some purgation, which may leave an astringency behind it, as hereafter in the cure of the flix shall be shewed. For as Hyppocrates, in his first book and one and twentieth Aphorisme, doth admonish us, we must consider and mark, how nature doth incline her self, for that will teach us what we are to doe.

Now if you perceive the botch or carbunkle to appear underneath the chin about the throat, then presently draw bloud in both vein̄es under the tongue, and immediately after that apply a cupping glasse; with scarification in one side of the neck next unto the fore, thereby to draw it from the throat, for fear least suddenly it choke him up, and then apply Chickens rumps, or Hens rumps to the botch, the feathers being first pluckt away from the rump, and a grain of Salt put into the tewell, and so hold the bare place to the greif untill the Chicken die, which will be within half an hour, and then apply another, and so continue in changing them so long as they doe die, and lastly apply a mollificative Cataplasme or plaister to the same place, as in the fift Chapter following is shewed, which is made with Unguentum basillicon, and to the botch apply the Epithemation and Cataplasme in the seventh Chapter following. But if it be in the neck, he doth complain, then let him bloud in the Cephallica vein in the arm, of the same side where he complaineth.

If in the groin or flanke he doth complain, then let him bloud in the foot on the same side, and open the vein called Maleola, or Saphena, the quantity must be according as the age and strength of the party requireth, but at most draw not above six or eight ounces: For Avicen willeth us, to preserve bloud as the treasure of nature.

[Page]But in a weak, spare, and cachochimious body (as Galen teacheth us) we may not draw bloud at all, for thereby should you greatly indanger the Patient, but help such by Cordials and sweat.

And here you shall understand, that unlesse Phlebotomy be done at the first, that is, within six or eight houres atmost, it will be too late to attempt it, neither may you doe it if the sore doe appear up in height tending to suppuration, for then should you hinder nature, which like a diligent workman, hath discharged and thrust forth that venomous matter, which otherwise would have killed us.

And here touching Phlebotomy or bloud-letting, you must have this speciall care, that you draw not bloud on the opposite side, as if it be on the left side the sore appear, then draw not bloud on the right side; if it appear in the flanke, then draw not bloud in the arme, but in the foot, for otherwise you shall draw that venomous matter from the ignoble unto the noble parts, and so kill the body.

And although the party complain not more in the one side then the other, yet by the pulse shall you perceive on which side the venome lieth hidden, for on that side where nature is opprest, there shall you find the pulse more weak, feeble, and uneven, greatly differing from the other side.

And here you shall understand, that in some it hath been seen, that nature of it self at the first, hath thrust out that venomous matter in some place of the body, with a botch appearing high, and tending to suppuration, or a carbunckle, or spots called purples. Now here if you draw bloud, you doe then greatly indanger the body; but in this case you must onely give Cordials, and use all the meanes you can to bring it outward, either by maturation, or evaporation, as hereafter shall be shewed you.

And here you shall further understand, that where the age, constitution, nor strength of the party will permit that Phlebotomy be done, yet for the better help of nature you must apply Ventoses, with reasonable deep scarification, unto the next place adjoyning, where the party complaineth, thereby the more speedily to draw the venomous matter unto the superficiall [Page] parts, and there to apply the rumps of Chickens, as before is taught you, and so apply to the place some strong maturative, and atrractive plaister, or Cataplasme, as hereafter shall be shewed you. If the greif be in the head or throte, then apply Ventoses to the neck: If it be in the emunctuaries of the heart, then apply them to the shoulders: If in the emunctuaries of the liver, then apply them to the buttocks or thighs, now when this is done, either by Phlebetomy, or Ventoses, then within an hour or two at the most after it, you must give the sick some good Cordiall Medicine, which hath power to comfort the heart, resist the venomous matter, and also procure sweat, whereof out of the following you may make choice as you list.

An excellent good Powder to expell the Plague, which also provoketh sweat.

℞. Roots of Gentian, Bittanie, Petasitis, ana, ʒ. i. Roots of Tormentill, Dittander, ana, ʒ iii. Red Sanders ʒ. ss. Fine Pearle of both sorts, ana, ℈. i. Fine Bolarmoniack prepared, fine Terra sigillata, ana, ʒ. vi. Rindes of Citrons, red Corrall, Roots of Zedoiar, shaving of Ebony, bone of a Stags heart, ana, sixteen graines: Fragments of the five pretious stones, ana, ℈. ss. Shaving of a Unicorns horn, Succini, ana, ℈. ss. Leaves of Gold and Silver, ana, one and half in number,

Make all these in fine powder, every one severall by himself, and then mix them all together, and give thereof ʒ. i. or ℈. iiii. more or lesse as occasion requireth, either in Sorrell, Scabios, or Carduus benedictus water two or three ounces, whereunto you must adde a little Sirrup of Lemons, or sour Citrons, and give it warm, the Bolarmoniack must be pounded small, then washed in Scabios water, and so dryed.

Another good Powder.

℞. Leaves of Dittander, called Dictami cretici, Roots of Tormentil, Bittanie, Pimpernell, Gentian, Zedoiar, ana, ʒ. i. Terra lemnia, Alloes Cicatrina, fine Myrrh, Rinds of sour Citrons, [Page] ana ʒ i. Mastick, Saffron, ana, half a drachm. Bolarmoniack prepared as beforesaid, ʒ ii.

All these must be made in fine pouder, and so mixt together, you may give two scruples, or one drachm thereof with any of the aforesaid waters.

A good Opiat to expell venome, and provoke sweat.

Conserve of the floures of Burrage, Bugloss, Violets, Bittanie, ana, ℥. ii. Venus Triacle ℥. ii. Red Terra sigillata, Terra lemnia, Mithridate, ana ℥. i. Shaving of Ebonie, And Harts-horn, Orient Pearls, Roots of Tormentill, ana ʒ i. Shaving of Unicorns horn, Root of Angelica, ana half a drachm. Sirrup of the Juice of small Sorrell and Bugloss, ana, so much as shall suffice.

Mix all these together in the form of an Opiat, then take of the same Opiat, one drachm and half. Scabios water, Balm water, ana ℥ ii.

Dissolve the Opiat in the waters, and drink it warm, then walk a little upon it, and then goe to bed and sweat.

Another excellent good means to expell the venom, and procure sweat.

Take a great white Onyon, and pick out the coar or middle of him, then fill the hole with good Venus Triacle, or Andromachus Triacle, and Aqua vitae, then stop or cover the hole of the Onyon again, and rost him in the hot ashes untill he be soft, then strein it strongly through a cloth, and give it the sick to drinke, and the rest that remains, pound it small, and apply it to the sore, and sweat upon it.

Now when he hath taken any of the aforesaid Cordials, if he chance to vomit it up again, then wash his mouth with Rosewater and Vinegar, and then give him more of the same again, which must be proportioned according to the quantitie vomited, for if all were vomited, then give so much more: (if lesse) then according to the quantity vomited, and if he vomit that also, then give him more, and so continue it [Page] to the third or fourth time, if cause so require, but if at no time he doe retain it, then is there small hope of recovery; I have known divers, which have vomited their Cordials three or four times, and at last, giving the juyce of the Onyon as aforesaid, hath kept that, and sweat upon it, and so recover their health.

Also Minardus Triacle, or Andromachus Triacle being taken two Scruples with one Scruple of Dioscordium, and dissolved in two or three ounces of this water following, or Carduus benedictus, Sorrell, and Scabios water, hath been found excellent good and available, both to procure sweat, and expell the venomous matter.

An excellent good water against the Plague, and divers other diseases, which is to be made in May or June.

Take Angelica, Dragons, Scabios, ana three handfuls. Wormwood, Sage, Salendine, Mugwort, Rue, Rosemary, Varvein, Endive, Mints, ana one handfull. Tormentill, Pimpernell, Agrimonie, Bittanie, ana two handfulls. St. Johns wort, Fetherfew, and Pionie, ana a little handfull.

You must mix all these hearbs together, then bruise them in a stone morter grosly, then put them into a clean vessell of glasse or earth, and add thereto a pottle of White wine, or three quarts, a pint of Rose-water, and a pint of Vinegar: then mixe them well together, and presse down the Hearbs close together with your hands, then stop the pot close, and so let it stand to infuse two dayes and two nights, then distill it in a stillatorie, this water hath been found excellent good, both to preserve one from the Plague, being drunk three or four spoonfuls of it in the morning fasting, as also to expell the disease, being drunk with any of the Cordials aforesaid.

CHAP. II. Sheweth what is to be done after taking of the Cordiall.

NOw so soon as the partie hath taken his Cordiall, (if he be able) cause him to walke upon it in his chamber a [Page] prettie while, then lay him into his naked bed, being first warmed if it be in cold weather, and so procure him to sweat, but in any case have a speciall care to keep him from sleep all that day, because thereby the bloud and vitall spirits are drawn to the inward parts, and there doth hold in the venomous matter about the heart; but if the sore appear, or be perceived to present it self in any place neer the heart, then to defend the malignity thereof before he sweat, it were good to annoint the place betwixt the region of the heart and the sore with Triacle, or with this Unguent following.

A good defensative Unguent.

Take Triacle, ℥. ss. Terra lemnia, Red sanders, ana ʒ. i. Mix them together with a little Rose-water and Vinegar in a morter, to the form of an Unguent, and so use it as aforesaid.

And unto the sore place apyly chickens rumps, as before hath been told you, and then annoint the place grieved with Oyle of Lillies; and then Epithemate the heart with any one of these Epithemations following.

Epithemation.

Take the Powder of Diamargaritum frigidum, ℈ i. Triasandalum, ʒ. vi. Ebeni, ʒ ii. Saffron, ℈. ss. Lettice seed, ʒ i. Waters of Roses, Bugloss, and Sorrel, ana ℥ vi. Vinegar ℥. ii. boil them altogether a little.

Another.

Take the waters of Roses, Balm, Bugloss, Carduus benedictus and white wine, ana ℥ iiii. Vinegar of Roses ℥ ii. Powder of red Roses, Cinnamon, Triasandalum, Diamargaritum, Frigidum, ana ʒ ss. Mithridatum, ℥ i. Triacle, ℥ ss. [...]oil them together a little, and being bloud warm, Epithemate the heart therewith, which being done, then procure him to sweat, and after sweat, and the body dryed, then apply this quickly to the heart.

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A Quilt for the Heart.

Take the floures of Nenuphare, Burrage, Bugloss, ana, a little handfull: Floures of Balm, Rosemary, ana ʒ iii. Red sanders, Red corall, Lignum aloes, Rinde of a citron, ana, ʒ i. Seeds of Basil, Citrons, ana ʒ i. Leaves of Dittander, Berries of Juniper, ana ℈ i. Bone of a Stags heart, half a scruple, Saffron, four grains.

Mixe all these in grosse powder, and put them in a bag of crimson Taffetie, or Lincloth, and lay it to the heart, and there let it remain. All these things being done, then procure him to sweat, having a good fire in the chamber, and windowes close shut, and so let him sweat three or four houres more or lesse, or according as the strength of the sick body can endure, and then dry the body well with warm clothes, taking great care that the sick catch not cold in the doing thereof, and then give him some of this Julep following, and apply the aforesaid quilt or bag to the heart.

A cordiall Iulep.

Take Waters of Endive, Purslane, and Roses, ana, ℥. ii. Sorrell water, half a pint, Juyce of Pomgranats, and for lack thereof Vinegar, ℥ iiii. Camphire ʒ iii, Sugar, one pound. Boil all these together in the form of a Julep, and give three or four spoonfuls thereof at a time.

Another Iulep.

Take Sirrup of Ribes, Sorrell, Nenuphare, ana ℥. i. Juice of Limons, ℥ i. Sorrell water, ℥ viii. Mix all these together, and take two or three spoonfulls thereof oftentimes, which will both comfort the heart, and quench thirst.

And if in the time of his sweat he be very thirstie, then may you give him to drink a Tysane made with water, clean Barly, and Licorice scrapt clean and bruised, boil them together, then strein it, and unto a quart of the liquor add three ounces of Sirrup of Limons, and give thereof at any time; small [Page] beer or ale is also tolerable, or you may give a spoonfull of this Julep following at any time.

A Iulep to quench thirst.

℞. Sorrell-water, four ounces, Burrage-water, Scabios water, of either one ounce, Sirrup of Lemons and sowre Citrons, of either one ounce.

Mix all these together and so use it as occasion requireth at any time: and give oftentimes a cake of Manus Christi, made with Perls for him to eat. But if in the time of his sweat you see the sick to faint or swoun, then apply to his temples, and the region of the heart, this mixture following.

℞. Conserve of Roses, Burrage, Bugloss, Broom floures, of either one ounce: Mithridate, four ounces, Triacle, one ounce, Floures of Violets, Pellamountaine, Red Roses, of either one drachme, Roots of Ireos, one drachm, Musk, Sivet, of either eight graines.

Mix all these together with a quantity of Rose-Vinegar in the form of an Opiat, this must be spread on Plaisters, and applied to the heart and temples, and to the soales of the feet apply this plaister following.

Take of the aforesaid Opiat, ℥ ii. unto the which you must put so much more of an Onyon, which must have the middle part thereof taken out, and the hole filled with Mithridate; and Aqua vitae, and so rosted in the ashes, and then mix it with the Opiat, and apply it to both soales of the feet.

Now when all this is done, and that one hour is past after his sweat and body dried as aforesaid: it were good you did give the sick some good comfortable broth, although he vomit it up againe, then let him rest two houres, and then offer him more, which you must do oftentimes, and but little at a time.

And if after all this done he continue still weak and faint without any amendment, then give him another Cordiall, as ye did at the first, and so caufe him to sweat again so long as his strength can well endure it, and after sweat give more of the Julep aforesaid, for by this meanes you shall oftentimes see [Page] the sore, which did offer it self to come forth, will be clean discussed and consumed away: but if it do not by this means go away, then use all the means you can to bring it to suppuration, and then open it with some caustick or incision, as hereafter shall be shewed you at large.

The next day after his sweat, you may tollerate him to sleep one hour or two in the forenoon, whereby to prevent pain or lightnesse of the head, which may chance through want thereof: and if after his sleep the party be sick and faint, then immediately give him some good Cordiall, according as the state of his body requireth, either in temperate or extream heat, as before is shewed: and in one hour after that give him some comfortable broth made with Veale, Mutton, Chicken, or such like, wherein some Burrage, Bugloss, Pimpernell, and a little Hysop, with some Parsley roots, the inner pith being taken out, must be boiled, whereof he must take a little at a time, three or four times a day, and betwixt times in taking of his broth, give him three or four spoonfulls of this Julep following, which doth resist venenosity from the heart, and also quench thirst.

A Iulep to quench thirst and resist Venenosity.

℞. Water of Scabios, Burrage, Sorrell, ana ℥. ii. Sirrup of Lemons, sowre Citrons, and the juice of Sorrell, of either one ounce.

Mix all these together, and give thereof as cause requireth.

Then at night he may sleep three or four houres more, and the next day, being the third or fourth day of his accubet, you may purge him with one of the purgations here following, but in any case you must take heed that you do not purge with any strong or Scammoniate medicine, because it may cause an extream flux, which will be most dangerous, because it will overmuch weaken the body, and hinder concoction, for most commonly in this disease the body of it self is subject to fluxes.

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A good Purgation in a strong body.

℞. Rad. Cichoriae, ʒ. iiii. Rad. Petasitis, ʒ. ss. Fol. Scabiosae, Card. Benedictus Pimpinellae, Acetosae, ana M. i. Florum Cord. P. i. Prunorum dammas no. x. Sem. Coriandri, ʒ. ss. Aquae font. ℥. ix.

Boyle them untill a third part be consumed, then strain it.

℞. Decoct. col. ℥. iiii. Fol. Senuae, ʒ. iii. Rhab. elect. ʒ. iiii. Spicae. G. iii.

Infuse them together twelve hours, then strain it strongly, and add thereto these things.

Sir. de Cichoriae, cum Rhab. ʒ vi. Oxisacchari, Simp. ʒ. ii.

Mix them altogether, and drink it in the morning refraining from meat, drink, and sleep three houres after, and then eat some good broth.

Another in a plethorick and full body.

℞. Fol. Scabiosae, Buglossae, Card. B. ana M. i. Florum Cord. P. i. Rad. Tormentillae. ʒ. iii. Rad. Fenic. licho. ana ʒ. iiii. Passularum enucleat, ℥. i. Prunorum dammas. no. vi. Sem anis. Coriandri, Oxialidis, ana ℈. i. Sennae, Polipod. q. ana ℥. i.

Boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of water untill half the water be consumed, then strain it, and keep it.

℞. Rhab. elect. ʒ. ii. Agarici, tros. ʒ. i. Croci. ℈. ss. Aquarum scabiosae, Borraginis, Card. B. ana ʒ. iiii.

Infuse these together twelve hours in a warm place, then strain them strongly, and add thereto Sir. ros. lax. Mannae. Calabriae ana ℥. i. Decoct. col. ℥. ii. vel ℥. iii.

Mix all these together, and take it as the other before.

A good purgation for a weak body.

℞. Fol. sennae, ʒ. iii. Rhab. elect, ʒ. i. Sem. anis. ʒ. ss. Schenanthi, ℈. ss. Aquae Acetosae, ℥. v.

Boyle them a little, then take it from the fire, and let them stand infused together twelve houres, then strain it out strongly, [Page] and add thereto Sir. ros. lax. ℥. i. and then drink it as the other before.

Another gentle purgation.

℞. Aquarum scabiosae, Card. B. Aquae ad pestem, ana ℥. i. Rhab elect, ʒ. ii. ss. Cinamomi, ʒ. ss.

Infuse them together twelve hours, and strain them strongly; then add to the straining Sir. ros. lax. ℥. i. Sir. de limonibus, four ounces.

Mix them together, and so drink it as the other before, you may either add or diminish of the Rubarb unto any of these potions as you list.

Now when you see the purgation hath done working, then give the sick some Cordiall thing, as hereafter followeth, which he must also take the next morning following.

A good Cordiall to be taken after Purging.

℞. Conserva Burrag, Bugloss, Mali Citri, ana ʒ. iiii. Confect. Alkermis▪ ʒ. i. Boli Veri, ʒ. ss. Specierum diarhod abb. ℈. ii. Diamarga. frigid. ʒ. i. Manus Christi perlati, ℥. i. Sir. de Lemon, ʒ. iiii.

Mix all these together, and give the sick thereof so much as a chestnut at a time, you must oftentimes eat thereof if the sick be in no great heat.

Another good Cordiall to be given where great heat is.

℞. Conservae Bor [...]g, ʒ iiii. Conservae fol. acetosae, ℥ i. Bolarm. veri▪ ʒ. i. Manus Christi cum perlis, ℥. i. Sir. de Lemonibus, q. v. misce.

You must oftentimes give of this where great heat is, so much as three beanes at a time.

A good Cordiall potion.

℞. Aquarum buglossae, Acetosae, ana ℥. i. Pul. diamarga. frig. [Page] ʒ. ss. Confectio alkermis, G. ii. Sir. de aceto, Citri, vel de Lemon. ℥. i. misce.

All this you may take after purging as aforesaid, at any time.

And here you must understand, that if it be in a plethorick body full of ill humors, it were good that you purge him again the next day.

CHAP. III. Sheweth what symptoms often chance, and how to help them.

FOr that in this contagious disease there are divers dangerous symptoms which do oftentimes chance, I will here shew you good meanes how to help the same.

For lightnesse of the head through want of sleep.

℞. Hordei mundi. P. i. Amigd. dul. depilatum ℥. i. ss. Sem. iiii. Frigid. ma. mund. ana ℈. i. Aqua font. q. 5. fiat decoctio. Decoct. col. l. i. Sir. de Lemonibus, de Papa, ana ℥. i. ss. Sacchari perlati, ℥. i.

Boyl them together a little, and then keep it to your use, you must often times give two or three spoonfulls thereof to drink, and anniont his temples with this ointment.

Oyntment to provoke sleep.

℞. Vnguent popillionis, ʒ. iiii. Unguent. Alabastrini, Ol. Nenuphariae misce, ana. ʒ ii.

This oyntment is not onely good to provoke sleep but will also ease the pain of the head, if the place grieved be annointed therewith.

For raveing and raging▪

If the party rave, then give him one scruple of the powder of Harts-horn burnt, with half an ounce of the sirrup of Violets and Lemons, and apply this sacculus following to the head.

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A good Sacculus for raving and raging.

℞. Florum Nenupharis, P. i. Cort. Pap. ʒ. ii. Santali albi, Rub. Citri, ana. ʒ. i. Florum ros. rub, P. i. Florum Viol. P. ss. Florum camomil. Betonicae, ana ʒ. i.

Shread them all small, then pound them grosly, and quilt them in a bagg, and apply it to the head, and it will help you.

Aphtham, to help it.

In this contagious disease, there doth chance an ulceration of the mouth, which is called Aphtham, it cometh by means of the great interior heat which the sick is oppressed with in the time of his sicknesse, which if it be not well looked unto in time, it will greatly endanger the body, for Remedy whereof use this Gargarism.

A good Gargarism for the mouth.

℞. Clean barley, one handfull, wilde Daysie leaves, Plantalne leaves, Strawberry leaves, Violet leaves, of either one handfull: Purslane seed, one scruple, Quinse seed, one scruple and half. Licorice bruised, four drachms.

Boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of water untill the water be half consumed, then strain it, and take one pint and half thereof, and add thereto Sirrup of Roses by infusion, and sirrup of dried roses of either four drachms: Diamoron two ounces.

Mix these together, and gargarize and wash the mouth therewith oftentimes being warm, and it helpeth.

Vomiting extreamly, how to help it.

If it come in the beginning of the disease, as most commonly it doth, there is no better means to stay it, then by giving of Cordials and by sweating, by which meanes that venomous [Page] matter which is the cause thereof is expelled, and breathed out, but if after Cordials given, and sweat, it doth not stay, it is a very ill and dangerous signe: yet what means I have used to stay the same, I will here shew you.

A good bag for the stomack.

℞. Dried leaves of Mints, Elder, Origanie, Wormwood, Calamint, Mugwort, Thime, Balme, Pellemountaine, tops of Dill, of either a little handfull: Seeds of Carduus Benedictus, Fennell, Annis, of either four drachms: Roots of Ciperus, Calamus aromaticus, of either four drachms: Nutmegs, Cloves, Mace, of either half a drachm.

Make all these in gross powder, then put it into a linnen bag, which must be made so broad and long, as will cover the stomack: then take Rose-water and strong Vinegar, of either ten spoonfulls, wherein do you dissolve one ounce of Mithridate, then must you first wet the said bag in two parts of clean water and a third part of White or Claret-wine, and let him soak therein a little while, the liquor being first warmed on a Chafer and coales, and then wet him in the Rose-water and and Vinegar being warm, and so apply it to the stomack, and when he waxeth cold, warm him therein againe, and let him remain half an hour in all, and then take him away, and dry the stomack with a warm cloth, and then annoint it with this ointment following.

℞. Chymicall oyles of Rosemary, Sage, of either one drachm: Vinegar, Mithridate, of either one drachm.

Mix all these together, and so use it, and if the party be costive, then were it good to give him a glister, wherein dissolve two drachms of Mithridate, it is also good to apply Ventoses unto the buttocks and thighes.

Yoxe, or yexing, to stay it.

℞. Dill seed, two scruples and half: White Poppy seed, Purslane seed, of either one scruple and a half.

Bruise them a little, then knit them in a fine linnen cloth, and [Page] let it soak in the drink which he useth, and when you give him drink, wring out the bag therein, and let him drink it, and that will stay it, also the order aforesaid to help vomiting, is good to stay the yoxe, or yexing, but if neither of them prevaile, then will the sick hardly escape death.

Flix, how to stop it.

You must first give the patient this purpation following, which doth not onely purge away those slimie humors which is the cause thereof, but doth also leave an astringencie behind it.

℞. Rhab. elect. ʒ. iii. Cinamoni, ℈. ii. Aquarum Endiviae, Borraginis, ana ℥. ii.

Infuse them together twelve houres, then strain it out strongly, and add thereto one ounce of Sirrup of roses laxative, and so drink it warm, refraining from meat, and drink, and sleep three houres after it: and at night when it hath done working, give this confection following.

℞. Conservae ros. ʒ. iiii. Dioscordii, ℈. i. ss. Pul. Diatragag. frigid. ℈. i, Dialkermes, G. x. Sir. de Lemon. ʒ. ii. misce.

When you have given this confection, then doe you Epithemate the region of the heart with this Epithemative following,

Epithemation for the heart.

℞. Aquarum Buglossae, Burrag, Rosarum, Oxialidis, ana ℥. iiii. Throchiscorum de camphera, ℈. i. Pul. diamargarit. frigid. ʒ. i. Aceti alb. ℥. i. Offa de corde cervi, ℈. ss. Santal. Rub. Coral. Rub. misce. ana ℈. i.

With this you must Epithemate the Region of the heart warm a quarter of an hour, and if by this meanes it stay not, then the next day give some of this confection following, which I have found excellent good for the stopping of any flix whatsoever.

℞. Conservae ros. siccae. ℥. i. Pul. Rhab. troschiscat ℈. i. Térrae lemniae ʒ. ss. Lap. Hemattitis, Sang. Draco. Bolarmoni. ana ʒ. ii. Mithridatii, misce, ʒ. i.

[Page]You must every morning and evening give two drachm hereof, and drink some Plantaine water after it.

Now here you must understand, that if the flix come in the beginning of the sicknesse, and that no botch, Carbunkle, nor▪ spots appear in the body, then in any case you may not goe about to stop it, but suffer nature to discharge it selfe, and onely help nature with Cordials, and Epithemations applyed to the heart, but if by the continuance thereof, the Patient grow very weak and faint therewith, then is it to be repressed, as before is shewed, but it must be the third day before you attempt to doe it.

But if this flix come when the botch or Carbunkle doth appear, and tending to maturation, then is it very dangerous, for by that meanes the venomous matter is drawn back again into the principall parts, and so killeth the Patient.

CHAP. IIII. Sheweth the generall cure of a botch when he appeares outwardly.

FIrst, give Cordials, and use the defensive before taught you in the second Chapter, thereby to keep it from the heart, and then bring it to maturation as followeth.

A good Maturative.

Take a great Onyon and roast him in the ashes, then pound him with some powder of white Mustard-seed, and for lack thereof some Triacle, and pound them together, and so apply it to the greif warm, and renue it twice a day, which within three or four dayes at most will bring it to suppuration.

Another.

Take white Lilly roots, Enulacompane roots, Scabios, and Onyons, of either two ounces.

Roast all these together in a Cole leafe, or a wet paper, then pound them with some sweet Butter, and a little Venice Triacle, whereunto doe you adde some Galbanum, and Ammoniacum [Page] dissolved in Vinegar, and strained from the fesses and dregs, and so mix them altogether, and apply it, renewing it twice a day.

Another, where no inflammation is.

Take Unguentum basilicon ℥. iiii. soure Leaven ℥. ii. Oil of Lilies, sweet Butter, ana. ʒ. iiii. Triacle ʒ. i. ss. yolks of two Eggs.

Mix them together, and so apply it, and when it is come to suppuration, then open it in the lowest part, either with a potentiall Caustick, or by inscition, but the Caustick is best, and when you have opened it, if no matter flow out, then apply the rumps of Chickens to the sore, as before hath been shewed: after that put into the wound a digestive as followeth.

A Digestive,

Take the yolk of an Egge, clear Turpentine ʒ. iiii. clarified Honey ʒ. ii. Mithridate, or Triacle ʒ. ss.

Mix all these together, and use it in the wound untill it be well digested, which you may perceive by the great quantity of white and thick matter that will flow out of it, and upon the sore lay this Cataplasme untill it be digested

A digestive Cataplasme.

℞. Fat Figs, and Raisins the stones pickt out, ana. ℥. ii. Sal nitrum ʒ. iv. sour Leaven ℥. iii. Honey ℥. i. oil of Cammomill ℥. i. ss.

You must shread and pound the Figs and Raisins very small, then commix it with the rest in a morter, in form of a pultis, and use it.

And when it is digested, then you must mundifie it with a mundificative, to which purpose Unguentum virid. or else Apostolorum mixt with Unguentum basilicon will serve, and when it is clean mundified, then to incarnate and heal it up, doe you onely annoint or strike it over with a feather wet in Arceus linament, which must be molten in a saucer, and over all lay a plaister of Diaculum, or a plaister of Kellebackeron, which is excellent [Page] good in all Imposthumes and tumours, and in this order doe you proceed, untill the greif be whole.

CHAP. V. Sheweth how to bring the botch out, that lieth deep within the body or flesh.

FIrst you must consider, that oftentimes the botch, or carbunkle doth offer it selfe to come forth in some place of the body, and yet no apparant sign thereof, but lieth deep hidden within, because nature is not of sufficient strength to thrust it forth; which is easily perceived by the great and almost intolerable pain, that by some is felt in the place where nature intends to expell it, which in the most part of people, by bloud-letting, Cordials, and sweat, is clean taken away and evacuated; but if after all this is done it goe not away, then unto these you must use all the meanes you can to bring it to the outward parts. First, by giving to the sick oftentimes some Cordiall Electuary to keep it from the heart, then (if no great pain be in the outward part) you must apply a cupping-glasse with scarification, directly against the place where the greif is felt, and let it remain thereon a quarter or halfe an hour, then take it away, and presently apply the rumps of Chickens, Hens, or Pigeons to the place (as before hath been shewed) that being done, then lay some attractive and maturative plaister or Cataplasme to the place, which here following is shewed, and every sixth hour you must apply the cupping-glass, as also the rest, untill such time as you have brought the venomous matter to the outward parts, there to be visibly seen, or at least, by feeling to be perceived, which commonly is effected at the second time, then use no more cupping, but onely apply a maturative to the place.

A good Maturative Cataplasme.

℞. Rad. simphyti, ma. Liliorum, Ceparum, Allium, ana, ℥. i. Fol. Oxialidis M. i.

You must pound all these together a little, then wrap them in a cole leafe, and so roast them in the hot embers, then pound them [Page] in a morter, whereunto adde Ol. liliorum, Auxungiaepor [...]. ana. ℥. i. Fermenti acris ʒ. vi. Mithridatii ʒ. i.

Mix them altogether in form of a Pultus, and so apply it warm, and renue it twise a day.

Another

℞. Galbani, Apopanacis, Ammoniaci, ana. ʒ. iiii.

Dissolve these in Vinegar if the botch be hot and inflamed (but if it be not) then dissolve them in Aqua vitae, and being dissolved, then strain it from the dregs, and adde thereto Unguent. basillici, Mithridat. Fomenti acris, ana, ℥. iiii.

Mix all these together, and apply it.

Another which is sooner made.

Take a great Onyon, make a hole in the middle of him, then fill the place with Mithridate or Triacle, and some leaves of Rue, then roast him in the hot embers, and when it is soft, then pound it with some Barrowes greace, and apply it to the sore, and that will ripen it in short time, then open and cure it as in the Chapter before,

But if the pain and inflammation in the place be so great, that the party cannot indure cupping glasses to be used, then must you apply a Vesicatory to the place, in the lowest part of the greife.

A Vesicatory.

Take Cantharides bruised in grosse powder ʒ. ss. soure Leaven ʒ. ii. mix them together in a morter with a little Vinegar, and apply it, which within twelve houres will raise a blister, which you must open, and then lay an Ivie or Cole leafe to the place, and upon all apply any of the Cataplasmes aforesaid, and dresse it twice, a day, and once a day at least, give the Patient some Cordiall, and when it is come to a sortnesse, and that you perceive it is imposthumated, then open it, and so proceed to the cure, as before is shewed.

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When the botch will not come to Maturation, but continueth alwayes hard.

Sometime it is seen that the botch, although it appear outwardly, yet will it not come to maturation, which commonly is accomplished within three or four dayes, but will resist whatsoever you apply to it, and remain and continue alwayes hard; now here you must presently open it, either with a Caustick or by inscition, for fear least it strike in again, or at least grow to gangrena, but before you open it, you must Epithemate the greif with this Epithemation following, and every morning and evening give the sick some Cordiall, and betwixt the sore and the heart annoint it with the defensive before in the second Chapter.

An Epithemation.

Take leaves of Mallowes, Violets, Cammomill, ana, M. i. Floures of Dill, Mellilot, ana. ℥. i. Hollehock roots ℥. iiii. Linseed ℥. ii.

Boil all these in a sufficient quantity of water untill halfe the water be consumed, and then wet some Wooll or Flax therein, being first well beaten and pickt clean, and lay it upon the sore warm, and as it cooleth, doe you take it away, and lay on another warm stewse, and so continue it half an hour together, and then open it as beforesaid, and immediately apply to the wound Chickens or Hens, as before in the first Chapter hath been shewed you: and if you cannot get Chickens nor Hens, then a Whelpe or a Pigeon clov [...]n asunder by the back, and so applyed warm will suffice, which must be renued so oftentimes as cause requireth, and when that is done, then apply unto the wound a digestive, made as followeth.

A Digestive.

Take Turpentine ℥. ss. Honey ʒ. ii. Mithridate, or Triacle ʒ. ss. the yolk of a new laid Egge.

Mix all these together and use it in the wound, and upon all lay [Page] the digestive Cataplasme beforesaid, which is made of Figs, or a plaister of Kellebackeron, or of Diaculum magnum, and dresse it twice a day, and every dressing Epithemate the greif as beforesaid, when it is digested, then mundifie, incarnate, and sigillate it, as in the Chapter before is shewed you.

CHAP. VI. Sheweth what is to be done when the botch strikes in again.

SOmetimes you shall see the sore will appear outwardly, and suddenly vanish away again, which is a very dangerous and deadly sign; now when this doth chance, then presently give some good Cordiall that hath power to expell the venome, as in the first Chapter of this Treatise you may find choyce of, and immediately apply this Pultus to both the soales of his feet, which must be made with Culver-dung, and Vinegar mixt together, and spread on a Cole leafe, and so applyed; you must give the Cordiall every third hour, and immediately after the first giving of the Cordiall, you must Epithemate the heart with the Epithemation before expressed, in the second Chapter of this Treatise; and when that is done, then cause the sick to sweat, if you may, and after his sweat, and the body well dried, then give him an easie Glister, the next day parge him with some gentle pargation, as before is shewed you. And if by these meanes you prevail not, then small hope of life is to be expected; yet Petrus Forestus willeth you, first to give a Glister, and then within two houres after it, to draw some bloud in the same side where the greif is, and to annoint the place greived with Unguentum resumptivum, mixt with some Oil of Cammomill, and then two houres after it to give a Cordiall, and procure sweat upon it, and so following the rest of the orders aforesaid, did recover divers.

CHAP. VII. Sheweth how to draw a botch from one place to another, and so to discusse him without breaking.

FIrst you must apply a cupping glasse next adjoyning to the lower part of the sore, on that side where you would have him to be [Page] brought, and next unto that glasse apply another, so neer the first as you can, and if that be not so farre as you would have the sore to be brought, then apply the third glasse, and let them all remain a quarter of an hour, then takeaway the last glasse, but suffer the first to remain, then presently apply him again, and let it remain a quarter of an hour more, and doe so three or four times together, but alwayes suffer the first glasse next the sore for to remain; now when you have thus done, then take all the glasses away, and presently apply a Vesicatory to the place where the last and uttermost glasse did stand, suffering it to remain there twelve houres, then open the blister, and lay an Ivy or Cole leafe to the place, and upon all lay a pla [...]ster of Kellebackeron, or Diaculum magnum, and dresse it twice a day, the longer you keep it running, the better it will be, and at length [...]eal it up as other Ulcers are cured.

Now so soon as you have applyed the Vesicatory, you must presently epithemate the botch with this Epithemation.

Epithemation.

Take Mallowes, Violets, Cammomill, Dill, and Mellilot, ana, M. i. Hollehock roots three ounces, Lin-seed one ounce and a half.

Boile all these in a sufficient quantity of water untill halfe the water be consumed, in this decoction you must wet some unwashed Wooll or Flax made clean and well beaten, then being wrung out a little, apply it warm to the place, and renue it every hour, during the time that the Vesicatory is in working, and when you have opened the blister that is made thereby, then onely apply this Cataplasme to the botch it self.

Take Mallowes, Violets and Cammomill floures, of either one handfull.

Boil▪ them in water untill they be tender, then cut them very small with a shreading knife, and add thereto Oil of Cammomill and Lillies, of either two ounces: Barrowes mort two ounces, Wax one ounce.

M [...]lt the Wax in the Oiles, and then put it to the Hearbs, and boile them together a little, then take it from the fire, and adde thereto Barly and Bean flower, a handfull of either of them, and so [Page] mix them altogether, and apply it to the greif, renuing it twice a day, which within three or four dayes will resolve and discusse the botch; but if it doe it not by that time, then use all the meanes you can to bring it to suppuration, as before is sufficiently shewed you.

CHAP. VIII. Sheweth how to know a Carbunkle or blain, as also the [...] of the same.

THe Carbunkle or blain doth first begin with a little Pustula or wheal, and sometime with divers Pustulaes or wheales together, with a great burning and pricking pain in the place, which Pustulaes are like a scalding bladder, seeming to be full of water or matter, yet when you open it, little or nothing will come out of it, and when they are broken, will grow to a hard crust or scarre, as if it had been burnt with a hot Iron or Caustick, with a great ponderosity or heavinesse in the place. In some it comes in the beginning, without any Pustula at all to be perceived, but with a hard black crust or a scarre; sometimes it lyeth hidden in the inward parts without any outward appearance at all, as if it be in the lungs, then there is a difficulty of breathing, with a Cough and foul spitting.

If it be in the Liver or Spleen, then the party feeleth a great pain and pricking in the same side; if in the Kidneyes or Bladder it doth chance, then is there suppression or stopping of the Urine, or great pain in the making of water; if it be in the Brain, then a delirium followeth, but howsoever it chance to come, the party infected therewith hath a Fever, with other accidents, as before in the 13. Chapter of the first Treatise is declared; if it begin with a green, black, or blew colour, or of divers colours like the Rainbow, then is it a deadly signe, and so is it, if once it appear and then suddenly vanish away; but if it be red or yellowish, so it be not in any of the principall parts, or emunctuaries of the body, as the heart, stomack, armpit, flanke, jawes, or throat, then it is laudable, otherwise in any of these places very desperate and dangerous to be cured, but wheresoever it doth chance, unlesse it may be brought to suppuration, it is deadly.

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The cure of the Carbunkle.

First, the Universall means must not be neglected, as bloudletting, cordials, epithemations, sweet and gentle evacuation by purging, as the time and cause requireth, which before in the beginning of this Treatise hath been shewed at large, and the same order which is used for the cure of a Botch, is also to be kept in the cure of a Carbunkle, and to rectifie the ayre of the house by strewing it with vine and willow leaves, red Roses and such like, as also to sprinkle the floor with Rose water and Vinegar, and cause the sick oftentimes to smell unto a cloth wet in Rosewater and Vinegar is very good: these things being done, then use all the means you can to bring it to Suppuration, for which purpose this Cataplasm following is very good

A Maturative Cataplasm.

Take Fat Figs ℥ iiii. Mustard seed, ℥ i. ss. Pound the seed small by it self, the Figs must first be cut very small, and then pounded likewise, and then adde thereto so much Oyle of Lillies as will suffice to make it in the form of a stiffe Pultis, and apply it warm, renuing it twice a day, this must be continued untill the scar begin to grow loose and moveable, and then apply this following to remove the scar.

Take unsalted butter, the yolk of an Egg, and wheat flour, mix them together, and apply it untill the s [...]ar doe fall away, then doe you mundifie it with this mundificative.

Mundificative annodine.

Take clear Turpentine, ℥ iiii. Sirrup of red Roses, ℥ i. Honie of Roses, ʒ iiii. Boil them altogether a little, then take it from the fire, and add there to Barlie and wheat flour of each ʒ. vi. the yolk, of a new laid Egg, and mix them altogether, and apply it three dayes, and then use this following.

Another Mundificative.

Take clear Turpentine, ℥ iii. Honie of Roses, ℥ ii. Juice [Page] of Smallege, ℥ ii. Barlie flowre, ℥ i. ss. Boil them altogether saving the Barlie, untill the Juice be consumed, then take it from the fire, and when it is almost cold, adde the Barlie thereto, and mixe them together, and use thereof to the grief untill it be clean mundified, and then incarnate it with Unguentum Basilicon, and lastly sigillate it with Unguentum de cerusa decocted.

Sometime you shall find a little pustule to appear, without any elevation of the parts adjoyning, or outward hardnesse. Now here to bring it outwardly you must apply this Cataplasm.

Take Lillie roots, Onyons, and sour Leaven, of either one ounce. Boil them in water untill the water be consumed, then bruise them in a morter, and add thereto Mustard seed, Culver-dung, White Sope, ana ʒ. i. ss. Snails without shels, vi. in number. Mithridate, Triacle, ana, half a drachm, Yolks of four Eggs.

Mix all these together, and apply it warm to the grief, renuing it thrice a day, this order must be continued untill you see the place elevated tending to suppuration, then apply a Maturative, and so proceed as next before this is shewed you, and during the whole time of the cure, I hold it better to use rather Poultises then plaisters, because they do not so much stop the Pores, but give more scope for the venemous matter to breath out.

When the Carbuncle doth come with great pain and inflammation, how to help it.

You must first bath and soke the place well with this bag following, and then presently apply the Cataplasm ensuing, for by this means you shall not onely ease the pain and abate the Inflammation and Fever, but also prevent the danger of Gangrena which may chance thereby.

The Bag.

Take Mallowes, Violets, Plantain, Liblong, ana one handfull. Fat Figs, ℥ i. Hollihock roots, Lillie roots, ana ℥. i. Lin-seed; ℥ i.

[Page]You must shred the hearbs grosly, and cut the Figgs and roots small, then bruise them in a morter, and mingle them altogether, then put them into two little bags of linnen cloth, and boil them in a sufficient quantitie of clean water, untill the water be half consumed, then take out one of the baggs, and wring out the water a little, and apply it to the grief warm, and when it is cold, take it away, and lay on the other, and doe so half an hour together every dressing, which must be twice a day at least.

The Cataplasm.

Take Mallows, Violets, Sorrell, Liblong, ana two handfuls, Henbane, a little handfull.

Wrap them all in a ball together, and roast them in the ashes, then bruise them in a morter, and adde thereto, Mel rosarum, ℥ iiii. Triacle, ʒ i. ss. Saffron in pouder, half a drachm, Yolks of five Eggs.

Mix them together with the rest, adding some Barly flower thereto to thicken it, and apply it warm, renuing it alwaies before it grow dry and stiffe, and every dressing you must Epithemate the grief first with the baggs aforesaid, and this order must be continued untill the pain and Inflammation be gone, then to bring it unto Suppuration, if you adde to the foresaid Cataplasm some oyle of Lillies, and sweet Butter unsalted, it will be very good, or you may make this Cataplasm following.

Take Soot of the chimney, ℥. iii. Bay salt, ℥. i. ss. Yolks of two or three Eggs.

Mix all these together in a morter, and apply it to the grief warm, which must be alwaies renewed and changed before it grow dry and stiffe, this order must be continued untill the [...]ore come to suppuration, then to remove the scar, and finish the cure, doe you follow the order prescribed in the beginning of this Chapter.

There are other dangerous accidents which doe sometimes chance in the botch or Carbuncle, which here to treat of would little avail the unexpert people, because they know not the means how to execute the same, but if any such [Page] thing chance, then doe I wish you to seek the help of some learned Physitian, or expert Chirurgion, whose counsell I doe wish you to follow.

The End of the Second Treatise.

A Short Treatise of the Small Pox, shewing the Means how for to govern and cure those which are infected therewith.

CHAP. I. Sheweth what the Small Pox and Measels are, and whereof it proceedeth.

FOr that oftentimes those that are infected with the Plague, are in the end of the disease sometime troubled with the small Pox or Measels, as also by good observation it hath been seen, that they are fore-runners or warnings of the plague to come, as Salius and divers other writers doe testifie: I have thought it good and as a matter pertinent to my former Treatise, to shew the aids and helps which are required for the same.

I need not greatly to stand upon the description of this disease, because it is a thing well known unto most people, proceeding of adusted bloud mixt with flegm, as Avicen witnesseth, which according to both ancient and latter Writers doth alwaies begin with a Fever, then shortly after there ariseth small Pustulaes upon the skin throughout all the body, which doe not suddenly come forth, but by intermission, in some more or lesse, according to the state and qualitie of the bodie infected therewith: for in some there ariseth many little Pustulaes with elevation of the skin, which in one day doe increase and grow bigger, and after have a thick matter growing in them, which the Greeks call Exanthemata or Exthymata: and after the Latines Variola, in our English tongue the small Pox, [Page] and here some Writers doe make a difference betwixt variola and exanthemata; for say they, that is called variola when many of those Pustules doe suddenly run into a clear bladder, as if it had been scalled, but the other doth not so, yet they are both one in the cure, they doe most commonly appear the fourth day, or before the eight day, as Avicen witnesseth.

What the Measels or Males are.

Avicen saith, That the Measels or Males is that which first cometh with a great swelling in the flesh, with many little Pimples which are not to be seen, but onely by feeling with the hand are to be perceived, they have little elevation of the skin, neither doe they grow to maturation, or end with ulceration as the Pox doth, neither doe they assault the eyes, or leave any deformity behind them as the Pox doth, neither are they so swift in coming forth, but doe grow more slowly, they require the same cure which the Pox have, they proceed of cholerick and melancholie bloud.

The cause of the Pox and Measels.

The primitive cause as Valetius saith, is by alteration of the aire, in drawing some putrified and corrupt quality unto it, which doth cause an ebullition of our bloud.

The cause antecedent is repletion of meats, which do easily corrupt in the stomack, as when we eat milk and fish together at one time, or by neglecting to draw bloud, in such as have accustomed to doe it every year, whereby the bloud doth abound.

The conjunct cause is the menstruall bloud, which from the beginning in our mothers wombs wee received, the which mixing it self with the rest of our bloud; doth cause an Ebullition of the whole.

The efficient cause is, nature or naturall heat, which by that menstruall matter mixing it self with the rest of our bloud, doth cause a continuall vexing and disquieting thereof, whereby an unnaturall heat is increased in all the body, causing an Ebullition of bloud, by the which this filthy menstrual matter [Page] is seperated from our natural bloud, and the nature being offended and overwhelmed therewith, doth thrust it to the outward pores of the skin as the excrements of bloud, which matter if it be hot and slimie, then it produceth the Pox, but if dry and subtil, then the Measels or Males. But Mercurialis an excellent writer in Physick, in his first Book, de morbis puerorum, cap. 2. agreeing with Fernelius in his Book De abdit is rerum causis, c. 12. doth hold opinion, that the immediate cause of this disease doth not proceed of menstrual bloud, but of some secret and unknown corruption, or defiled quality of the aire, causing an Ebullition of bloud, which is also verified by Valetius, and now doth reckon it to be one of the hereditable diseases, because few or none doe escape it, but that either in their youth, ripe age, or old age, they are infected therewith. The contention hereabout is great, and mighty reasons are oppugned on both sides, therefore I will leave the judgement thereof unto the better learned to define; but mine opinion is, That now it proceedeth of the Excrements of all the four humours in our bodies, which striving with the purest, doth cause a supernatural heat and ebullition of our bloud, alwaies beginning with a Fever in the most part, and may well be reckoned in the number of those diseases which are called Epidemia: as Fracastorius in his first Book, De morbis contag. cap. 13. witnesseth this disease is very contagious and infectious, as experience teacheth us: There are two speciall causes why this disease is infectious: The first is, because it proceedeth by ebullition of bloud, whose vapour being entred into another bodie, doth soon defile and infect the same, the second reason is, because it is a disease hereditable; for we see when one is infected therewith, that so many as come neer him, (especially those which are allyed in the same bloud) doe assuredly for the most part, receive the infection also.

CHAP. II. Sheweth to know the signs when one is infected, as also the good and ill signs in the disease.

THe signs when one is infected are these, first he is taken with a hot Fever, and sometime with a Delirium, great [Page] pain in the back, furring and stopping of the nose, beating of the heart, hoarsnesse, redness of the eyes, and full of tears with heavinesse and pain in the head, great beating in the forehead and temples, heaviness and pricking in all the body, dryness in the mouth, the face very red, pain in the throat and breast, difficulty in breathing, and shaking of the hands and feet with spitting thick matter.

When they doe soon or in short time appear, and that in their coming out they doe look red, and that after they are come forth they doe look white, and speedily grow to maturation, that he draweth his breath easily, and doth find himself eased of his pain, and that his Fever doth leave him, these are good and laudable signes of recovery.

When the Pox lye hidden within and not appearing outwardly, or if after they are come forth they doe suddenly strike in again and vanish away, or that they doe look of a black, blewish, and green colour, with a difficultie and straitnesse of drawing breath, and that he doe often swoun, if the sick have a flix or lask, when the Pox were found double, that is, one growing within another, or when they run together in blisters like scalding bladders, and then on the sudden do sink down and grow dry with a hard black scar or crust, as if it had been burnt with a hot iron, all these are ill signs.

Avicen saith, there are two speciall causes which produce death unto those that have this disease: either for that they are choaked with great Inflammation and swelling in the throat called Angina, or having a flix or lask which doth so weaken and overthrow the vitall spirits, that thereby the disease is increased, and so death followeth.

How to know of what humours this disease cometh.

If it come of bloud, then they appear red, with generall pain, and great heat in all the body.

If they come of choler, then will they appear of a yellowish red and clear colour, with a pricking pain in all the bodie.

If they come of flegm, then will they appear of a whitish colour and scaly, or with scales.

[Page]If they come of melancholie, then will they appear blackish with a pricking pain.

CHAP. III. Sheweth the meanes to cure the Pox or Measels.

THere are two speciall meanes required for curing this disease, the first is to help nature to expell the same from the interior and principall parts unto the exterior: the second is to preserve both the interior and exterior parts, that they may not be hurt thereby.

For the first intention, if the age and strength of the sick will permit, and that the Pox or Measels appear not, it were then good in the first, second, or third day to draw bloud out of the Basilica veine in the right arme, if he be not under the age of fourteen years, but the quantity must be at the discretion of him that draweth it, either more or lesse as occasion is offered: but for children and such as are of tender years, and weak bodies, it were not good to draw bloud out of the arme, but out of the inferior parts, as the thighes, hams buttocks, and the Emeroidall veines, especially if the party be melancholie, or else to apply ventoses to the loynes, buttocks, or hams, which may boldly be used both before and after they do appear, either with scarification, or without, as cause requireth, which is a speciall good meanes to draw that Ichorous matter from the interior to the exterior parts; but for sucking Children, it were best to apply bloud-suckers unto any of the foresaid places, which is a thing that may be used with more ease then ventoses, neither do I wish either of them to be used unlesse necessity require it, which is, when the matter lieth lurking in the interior parts, not offering it self to appear outwardly: otherwise I hold it better to leave the whole work unto nature, specially in sucking children: for when we see that nature is ready, or doth endeavour to expell the malignity which is in the interior parts to the exterior, which may be perceived by reviving of the Spirits, and mitigating of the Fever: here we ought not to use any meanes at all, but leave the whole operation to nature, which we must onely help by keeping [Page] the sick body in a reasonable heat, being wrapt in a scarlet, stammell, or red cloth, which may not touch the skin, but to have a soft linnen cloth betwixt them both, and then cover him with clothes in reasonable sort, and keep him from the open ayre and the light, except a little, and also from anger, using all the meanes you can to keep the sick in quietnesse, and if the body be very costive, then to give an easie Glister.

A Glister.

℞. Barley, two handfuls, Violet leaves one handfull: Boyle these in three pints of water untill half be consumed, and strein it: then take of the same decoction twelve ounces.

Oyle of Violets three ounces, red Sugar and Butter, of either one ounce,

Mix them together and give it to the sick warm; you may encrease or diminish the decoction or ingredients according as the age of the party requireth: but if the sick have great heat, then may you add one ounce or four drachms of Cassia newly drawn unto it, and when he hath expelled the Glister, then rub the armes, hands, legs, and feet, softly with a warm cloth, which is also a very good meanes to draw that chorous matter from the interior to the exterior parts, when all this is done, then if the body be inclined to sweat, you must further the same by covering him with warm clothes, having a care that you lay not more on him then he can well endure, for otherwise you may cause faintnesse and swouning, which are ill in this case, yet must you alwaies keep the sick warm, and suffer him not to sleep, or permit very little untill the Pox or Measels do appear: and here you must have a speciall care to preserve the eyes, eares, nostrels, throat and lungs, that they be not hurt or offended therewith, as hereafter shall be shewed you, which you must use before he sweat and also in the sweat if need be.

Eyes, how to preserve them.

℞. Rose-water, Plantaine-water, of either two ounces, Sumack, two drachms.

[Page]Let them boyle together a little, or stand infused a night, then mixe therewith half a spoonfull of the oyle made of the white of an Egg, then wet two clothes five or six double therein, then lay them upon either eye, cold, which must bee alwaies kept upon the eyes untill the Pox be all come forth, and as they grow dry, wet them in the same liquor againe, and apply them, but if there be great pain and burning within the eye, then must you also put a drop of this musselage following into the eye: take quinse-seed, half a drachm, bruise it a little, then let it stand infused in three ounces of Rose-water a whole night, then strein it, and put one drop thereof into the eye three or four times a day at least, or take of this water.

℞. Rose-water, ℥. ii. Womans milk, ℥. i. Myrrh finely powdered six graines.

Mixe them together, and use it in the eye as before is shewed: this doth ease the paine, resisteth putrefication, and preserveth the sight.

For the eares, you must put a drop of oyle of Roses warm into them before he sweat.

For the nostrels, cause him oftentimes to smell to the vapour of Rose-vinegar, or else Vinegar, red-roses and Sanders boyled together.

For the throate, let him alwaies hold a peice of white sugarcandy in the mouth, and as it melteth swallow it down.

For the Lunges give the sick oftenimes some sirrup of quinses, or conserve of Roses, a little at a time.

And for his drink, the decocted water of barley, boyled with a little licorice is best, being mixed with the juice of a Lemon, Citron, Pomegranate, or Rybes: which the sick best liketh, for either of them is very good.

And for his diet, he must refrain from all salt, fat, thick and sharp meats: and from all sweet things either in meat or drink, his meat must be of a facile and easie digestion, and that hath a cooling property in it, as broth wherein burrage, bugloss, sorrell, and such like are boyled, and for ordinary drink, small beer or ale is best.

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CHAP IIII. Teacheth what is to be done when the Pox or Measels are flow in coming forth.

NOw when you perceive the Pox or Measels are slow and slack in comming forth, then must you help nature, with cordials, and by sweat to thrust it out from the interior and principall parts, unto which purpose I have alwaies found this drink to be excellent good here following.

℞. Hordei mund. M. i. Lentium. excort. P. i. Ficuum. No. x. Fol. capil. v. Lactucae. ana M. ss. Fol. acetosae. M. i. Florum cord. P. i. Semen fenic. ʒ. ii. Semen. 4. frigid. ma. ana ʒ. ss. Aqua font, lb. iiii.

Boyle all these together untill a third part of the water be consumed, and then strein it.

℞. Decoct. col. lb. i. Succus granatorum vel ribes, ℥. iiii.

Mix all these together, and give the sick four or six ounces thereof to drink every morning and evening, which will provoke sweat, and expell the disease, and if you cannot get the juice of Pomegranats, nor Rybes, then you may take so much of the sirrup of either of them.

Another good drink to expell the Pox or Measels.

Take a quart of posset-ale, a handfull of Fennell seed, boyle them together till a third part be consumed, then strein it, and add thereto one drachm of Triacle, and one scruple of Saffron in powder: mix them together, and give two, three, or four ounces thereof to drink every morning and evening as cause requireth.

But if it be for a strong and elderly body, you may give any of the expelling electuaries which are used to expell the Plague, as in the first Chapter for the curing of the Plague doth appear.

But if the sick be so weak that he cannot expell the disease in convenient time, then it is good to epithemate the heart with this epithemation following.

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Epithemation for the heart.

℞. Aquarum ros. Melissae, Card. b. Buglos. Morsus diaboli, vini alb. ana ℥. iiii. Aceti Ros. ℥. ii. ss. Pul. Ros. rub. Trium santal-Cinamoni, Elect. diamarg. frigid. ana ʒ. ss. Mithridati, ℥. i. Theriacae, ʒ. iiii.

Mix all these together, and let them boyle a little, and so warm Epithemate the heart: and when you have done it, then give some expulsive drink or electuary as cause requireth, and then cause him to sweat upon it, for by this meanes you shall obtaine your desire by Gods permission.

Thirst, how to quench it.

Now if in the expelling of the pox, the sick be very thirsty and dry, then give this Julep to drink morning and evening, which I have found very good.

℞. Sirrup of Jujubes, Nenuphare, and Burrage, of either four drachms: Water of Burrage, Cichore, and Bugloss, of either two ounces.

Mix them together and give the sick one half thereof in the morning, and the rest at night, and cause him oftentimes to lick of this mixture following.

Take the conserves of Nenuphare, Violets, and Burrage, of either six drachms: Manus Christi made with Perles, four drachms: Sirrup of Nenuphare and Ribes, of either one ounce and half.

Mix them together: and with a Licorice stick clean scrap'd, and a little bruised in the end, let the sick lick thereof.

CHAP. V. Sheweth what is to be done when the Pox are all come out in the skinne.

FOr that oftentimes the face and hands, which is the beauty and delight of our bodies, are oftentimes disfigured thereby, I will shew you what meanes I have used with good and happy [Page] successe for preventing thereof: which is, you may not do any thing unto them untill they grow white, and that they are come to maturation, which when you perceive, then with a golden pinne, or needle, or for lack thereof a copper pinne will serve, do you open every pustulae in the top, and so thrust out the matter therein very softly and gently with a soft linnen cloth, and if you perceive the places do fill againe, then open them againe as you did first, for if you do suffer the matter which is in them toremain over long, then will it fret and corrode the flesh, which is the cause of those pitts which remaine after the Pox are gone, as Avicen witnesseth: now when you have thus done, then annoint the places with this oyntment following.

Take Elder leaves, one handfull, Marigolds, two handfulls, French Mallowes, one handfull, Barrowes morte or grease, six ounces.

First bruise the hearb in a morter, and then boyle them with the grease in a pewter dish on a chafer and coales, untill the juice of the hearbs be consumed, then strein it, and keep it to your use, the best time to make it is in the middle or the latter end of May.

You must with a feather annoint the places grieved, and as it drieth in, annoint it againe, and so continue it oftentimes, for this will soon dry them up, and keep the place from pitts and holes, which remain after the Pox are gone.

Also if you annoint the Pox with the oyle of sweet Almonds newly drawn three or four times a day, which you must begin to do so soon as the Pox are grown white and come to maturation, it will cure them without pitts or spotts, and easeth the pain and burning, and helpeth excoriation.

Some do onely oftentimes wet the places with the juice of Marigolds in the summer season, and in winter the juice of the roots will serve: and by that onely have done well.

Mercuriales doth greatly commend this decoction following to be used after the Pustulaes are opened.

Take Barley, one little handfull, red Roses, a handfull, red Sanders, white Sanders, of either one o [...]nce: Saffron, two scruples, Salt, four drachms, Clean water, three pound.

Boyle all together untill a third part be consumed, you must [Page] oftentimes touch the sores therewith, with a fine cloth wet therein, and as it drieth in, wet it againe, this in a short time will dry them up.

I have heard of some, which having not used any thing at all, but suffering them to dry up and fall off themselves without any picking or scratching, have done very well, and not any pitts remained after it.

When the Pox, after they come out, do not grow to maturation, how you shall help it.

Sometimes you shall find that it will be a long time before those pustulaes will come to maturation, or grow white: now here you must help nature to bring it to passe, which you may well do with this decoction.

Take Mallowes, one handfull, Figgs, twelve in number, Water, a quart.

Cut the Figgs small, and boyle altogether, untill half and more be consumed, and then wet a fine soft linnen cloth therein, and touch the place therewith oftentimes, which will soone bring them to maturation, and also ease the paine, if any be.

Ulceration, to help it.

If in the declining of the Pox they chance to grow unto Ulcerations, which is oftentimes seen: then for the curing thereof use this order here following.

Take Tamarinds, leaves of [...]entils, Mirtils, budds of oaken leaves, red Roses dried, of either a l [...]le handfull.

Boyle all these in a pottle of clean water untill half be consumed, then strein it, and with a fine cloth wet therein do you wash and soak the place well, then wipe it dry with a soft and fine linnen cloth, and then cast into the place some of this powder following.

Take Frankincese, Mastick, Sarcocoll, and red Roses, of either two drachms.

Make all these into fine powder severally by themselves, then mix them together, and so reserve it to thy use.

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A very good unguent for the same purpose.

Take oyle of Roses, vi. ounces, white Wax, one ounce, Ceruse washt in Rose and Plantaine-water, one ounce and half, clear Turpentine, iii. drachms, Camphire, half a drachm.

You must first melt the wax in the oyle, then put in the Ceruse by little and little, alwaies stirring it with an iron spalter, and let it boyle on a gentle fire of charcoles untill it grow black, but stirr it continually in the boyling, for feare least it burn: then take it from the fire, and add thereto the camphire, and lastly the Turpentine: this unguent is good both to mundifie, incarnate, and sigillate.

For extream heat and burning in the soales of the seet, and palms of the hands.

Petrus Forestus willeth to hold the hands and feet in warm water, and that will ease the pain and burning, and may boldly be used without any danger.

For to help the sorenesse and ulceration of the mouth.

Sometime it chanceth in this disease, that there is a great ulceration or excoriation in the mouth and jawes, called Aptham, which if it be not well looked unto in time, will grow to be Cankers, : now to cure and prevent the same, this gargarisme is excellent good.

Take Barley-water, a quart, red Roses dried, a little handfull, Sumach, and Rybes, of either two ounces, juice of Pomegranates, ℥. iii.

Boyle them altogether, saving the juice of Pomegranates, untill a third part be consumed, then strein it, and add thereto the juice of Pomegranates, with this you must often wash and gargarise, as also hold some thereof in the mouth a pretty while.

Also to prevent the same, the kernel of a Pomegranate held in the mouth is very good, and so it is excellent good [Page] to lick oftentimes some Diamoron, or juice of a Pomegranate.

For inflammation and paine in the tonsils and throate.

Take Plantaine-water, a pint, Sirrup of Pomegranates, two ounces.

Mix them together, and gargarise therewith oftentimes being warm.

Another.

Taste Nightshade-water, a pint, Seeds of Quinces, four scruples.

Boyle them together a little, then strein it, and add thereto two ounces of the sirrup of Pomegranates, and gargarise therewith oftentimes.

How to open the eye-lids that are fastened together with the Pox.

Sometimes the eye-lids are so fastened together that you cannot open them without great pain and danger: then to open them you must foment or bath them well with a decoction made of Quince seed, Mallowes and water boyled together, wherein wet some fine linnen clothes five or six double, and apply them warm, and continue it untill you may easily open them, and then if you perceive any web or filme to be grown over the sight, then thrice a day do you put some powder of white sugar-candy into the eye, or if you list, you may dissolve the sugar in Rose-water, and so use it in the eye, which will fret it away, and preserve the sight.

A good Collery for a Web or Ungula in the eye.

Take the juice of Rue, Fennell, Salendine, Mallowes, of either two ounces.

Boyle them together in a vessell of glasse, or peuter, over a chafer with coales, and scumme away the froth that doth rise thereof, then add thereto the gaule of an Eel, one drachm, and let them boyle together a little, then put thereto four scruples [Page] of white copperas, and one scruple of verdigreace in fine powder, boil all together a little, then let it run through a fine linnen cloth, and keep it in a glasse, you must every morning and evening put one drop thereof into the eye, provided that first due evacuation be made so well by phlebotomie as purging.

CHAP VI. Teacheth how to help divers accidents which chance after the Pox are cured and gone.

For rednesse of the face and hands after the Pox are gone, how to help it.

TAke Barley, Beanes, Lupins, of either one handfull: bruise them all in a morter grosely, and boyle them in three pints of water untill it grow thick like a jelly, then straine it, and annoint the face and hands therewith three or four times a day, for three or four daies together, and then you must wet the face and hands so oftentimes a day with this water following.

Take Vine leaves, two handfuls: Beane-flower, Dragons, wilde-tansey, of either one handfull: Camphire three drachms, two Calves feet, the pulpe of three Lemons, a pint of raw cream.

You must shred the hearbs small, as also the Lemons, and break and cut the Calves-feet small, then mix them together, and distill it in a glasse still, also the water of May-dew is excellent good for any high colour, or rednesse of the face.

For spots in the face remaining when the Pox are gone.

Take the juice of Lemons and mix it with a little bay-salt, [Page] and touch the spots therewith oftentimes in the day; for it is excellent good.

A good ointment for the same purpose.

Take oyle of sweet Almonds▪ oyle of white Lillies, of either one ounce: Capons-grease, Goats-tallow, of either four drachms: Sarcocoll, half a drachm: Flower of Rice, and of Lupins, of either one drachm: Litharge of gold, one drachm and half: Roots of Brionie, and of Ireos, of either one scruple: Sugar-candy white, one drachm.

Make powder of all those that may be brought into powder, and searce them through a searce, then put them all in a morter together, and labour them with a pestle, and in the working do you put the water of Roses, Beane-flower▪ and of white Lillies ana a great spoonfull, which must be put in by little and little in the working of it, and so labour them altogether untill it come to an unguent.

You must every evening annoint the face therewith, or hands, and in the morning wash it away in the water wherein Barley, Wheaten-bran, and the seed of Mallowes hath been boyled.

For holes remaining when the small Pox are gone.

For helping of this accident I have shewed many things, yet never could find any thing that did perfectly content me, but the best meanes that I have tried, is one day to wash the place with the distilled water of strong Vinegar, and the next day with the water wherein Bran and Mallowes have been boyled, and continue this order twenty daies, or a moneth together.

Running of the eares, how to help it.

Sometimes the eares do run very much in this disease, which in any wise you may not go about to stop in the beginning▪ [Page] but suffer it so to run, and the eares to remaine open: but if there be great pain in them, then wet a spunge in warm water and oyle of Roses mixt together, and lay it upon the eares.

For stopping of the nostrills, to help it.

Sometimes the nostrills are greatly pestered by stopping them with the Pox growing in them, which doth oftentimes cause ulceration in them, therefore to prevent the same, take red-Rose, and Plantaine, of either one handfull: Mirrh in powder half an ounce.

Boyle all these in a quart of water untill half be consumed, and so being warm, cause the sick to draw the fume thereof into his nostrills oftentimes.

Also if the sick doth oftentimes smell unto Vinegar, it is good.

For hoarsenesse remaining when the Pox are gone.

Take Licorice, Sebesten, Jujubes, of either two ounces: Fat-Figgs, four ounces, clean water, four pints.

Boyl all these together untill half be consumed, then strain it, and give one spoonfull thereof to the sick oftentimes, and it helpeth.

For filthy and moist scabs after the Pox are gone.

Take Lapis calaminaris, Litharge of gold, and of silver of either two drachms: Quick br mstone and Ceruse, ana 3. ii.

Bring all these into fine powder, and then labour them in a morter with so much Barrowes-mort or grease as shall be sufficient to make up an unguent, and annoint the place therewith every morning and evening.

FINIS.

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Some other few additionall observations concerning the passages in this latter Treatise.

PAge the eighth of this precedent Book, a Quilt or Bag is commended to be very excellent; it is reported to be Pope Adrians Bag, which he used against infection, and in the great last Sicknesse in London, it was commended to many great Persons of worth by some Apothecaries, who kept it as a great secret, and affirmed, it would prevent infection, and preserve them safe in that dangerous time; and thereupon sold it unto them at a very great rate: But that you may not be deluded in the prescription, I have set down the true receit thereof, as it was delivered unto me from the hands of a very noble friend.

A Preservative against the infection of the air, and the Plague, often approved by Pope Adrian, and many others of great rank and credit.

Take Arsenick two ounces, Auripigmentum one ounce, make little tablets thereof with the whites of Eggs, and Gum Dr [...] gacanth, and hang them about the neck against the heart.

I have also set down a red Cordiall water, very good against infection, which I had also from that noble friend.

Take a quart of good spirit of Wine, or very good Aqua vitae, infuse it in one ounce of good Mithridate, with as much good Venice Triacle: let it be close stopped some few day [...] [Page] in the infusion before you use it, then pour the spirit clear off, and reserve it for your use.

But to discover what opinions other Phisitians have held of that and the like, I have annexed hereunto their severall judgements hereafter, that amongst so many choise Medicines, they may select out the best and safest for their own preservations, when need shall require.

And to give them the better satisfaction, I have annexed, out of some choise Manuscripts, some approved Experiments, of some of our London ablest Doctors, as also out of some other Authors.

Severall opinions against wearing of Arsenick Amulets, as Preservatives against the Plague.

THe poysonous vapours of Arsenick being sucked or drawn into the body, when they find no contrary poyson with whom to wrestle with, as with an enemy, (for in an infected body there cannot be health; but we suppose him to be well, whom we desire to preserve so) those vapours must needs imprint a malignant and venomous quality on the spirit and heart, most adverse and pernitious to nature.

And by Galens own doctrine, all Alexiteries doe in a mann [...]r, if they be used too liberally, greatly offend and weaken our bodies; how can we then think, that ranke Poysons and Dilaet [...]ries, (such us Arsenick is) being applied, as to penetrate in [...]o the noblest region of all other, will no whit violate and wast our naturall, vitall, and radicall heat? Galen libr. de [...]mp. cap. 1 [...].

Nor did Galen, or any of the antient Fathers and Professors of [...]hysick, use to preserve from the Plague, or any other poison, by administring some other poison inwardly, or [Page] prescribing outwardly Applications, but proceeded by Antidotes, and Alexiteries, as will appear in libr. de Theriaca ad Pis. cap, 16. Wherefore, unlesse we will utterly disclaim or relinguish the method and prescripts of these worthy Antients, and prosecute new wayes and inventions, to oppose this man-yelling Monster, we must attempt it not with Poysons but Antidotes. And Galen defineth those to be Poysons, which agree not with nature, either well or ill affected at any time; for though there are some Poysons, which if they meet in the body with a contrary venome, so fight with it, and oppose it, that both doe perish in the conflict betwixt them; so that the party, by their colluctation and strugling together, escapes with his life: yet all of them agree in uniform opinion together, that where they meet with no opposition, they ruine the party: And therefore conclude, that Arsenick, worn by a healthy man, finding not onely no contrary Poyson to make conflict with, but no Poyson at all, must necessarily thwart, and oppose, and make an onset on nature her self.

And to confirme their opinions, I have purposely introduced the judgements of other learned Phisitians concurring with them.

Gerardus Columbus, a learned Phisitian, reporteth, that it hath been observed, that the wearers of these Amulets, upon unusuall heating their bodies, have fallen into sudden Lipothimies, and Swounings, with other fearfull accidents, which continued upon them till the Amulets or Placents were removed from them; and that others, though not instantly, yet after some time, have by late and wofull experience discovered their malignity, by falling into malignant and pestilent Fevers, some of them ending with death.

Franc. Alphanus, a Phisitian of Salerne, relateth of one, who wearing Arsenick, and heating himself with playing earnestly at Tennise, fell down suddenly dead.

Mattheus Hessus also thus writeth, As Cordiall Bags or Amulets ought not to be disavowed, so empoysoned Amulets can be no way commended; nor doe I remember, that ever any received good from them, who abstained from other [Page] Antidotes: But this I certainly know, that divers persons, who carry about them Quick-silver in a Nutshell, by the vain perswasions of some Imposters, have died of the Plague, and the counsellours and advisers of such like Amulets, have been the first have betaken themselves to their heeles, confiding more in their running than cunning: and yet these Quacks perswaded the ignorant people, with glorious promises and protestations, that whosoever carried Quick-silver or Arsenick about his neck, should be as safe, as if he had purchased a protection from the King of Heaven

Historians also report, that Caracalla, though he were a wicked Emperour, prohibited by publick Edict or Proclamation, that no man should wear about him superstitious Amulets.

And Theophrastus the great (not without cause) esteemed P [...]ricles to have a crazed brain, because he saw him wear an Amulet about his neck.

And hereunto Doctor Francis Herring, an able Phisitian, as a Corollary to what hath before been written, addeth the experience of some London Phisitians, who report, they have seen foul holes made in the breasts of those that have worn those Amulets, and have observed divers to die, who have religiously worn them about their necks, as well as others.

And whereas the venters and setters out of these deceitfull wares, make them as a scout, to discover the infection when it beginneth to seize on a man, by clapping close to the heart, to guard that principall part, as the cheif Tower: It is a meer deceit and collusion: for whensoever the body is heated, this event followeth necessarily, though no other infection be near, but the poysonous and venomous Arsenick itself, whose salutation is rather Ioabs imbracing, or Iuda's kissing, than friendly preservatives.

Causes of the Plague.

There are two speciall causes of the Plague.

First, An infected, corrupted, and putrified air,

[Page]Secondly, Evill and corrupt humours ingendered in the body.

The air is infected, when the temperatenesse of the air is changed from his naturall state, to excessive heat and moisture, which is the worst temperament of the air, the vapours drawn up by the heat of the Sun being unconsumed, rot, putrifie, and corrupt, and so with the venome infect the air: Also dead Carkases lying unburied, as it often chanceth in Warres, evaporations of Pooles, Fens, Marishes, stinking and noysome sents and Kennels, and Astronomers say, Aspects, Conjunctions and Oppositions of ill Planets, and Eclipses of the Sun and Moon.

Also disordering ones self, either in diet or exercises bringeth one into the Pestilence; therefore in time of contagion, outrages and surfets are to be avoided, as also all excesse of eating, drinking, sweating, bathing, lechery, and all other things that open the pores of the body, and enter thereby ill aires, which invenome the lively spirits.

Signes of the Plague.

The signes which declare one infected already are many; but the secret token of all to know the infected of the Plague is, if there arise botches behind the eares, or under the armeholes, or about the share; or if Carbunkles suddenly arise in any member, for when they appear, they betoken strength of nature, which being strong, laboureth to drive the poyson out of the body; but if botches doe not appear, it is more dangerous, for it sheweth, that nature is weak and feeble, and not able to expell and thrust forth the venomous humours, and then you must have respect to the signes before rehearsed.

The infection of the Plague entereth into a man after this sort.

In a man are three principall parts (that is) the Heart, Liver, and Brains, and each of these hath his cleansing place: [Page] If they appear in the neck, they shew the Brains to be chiefly vexed, if under the arme-holes the Heart, but if they appear in the share, the Liver is most infected,

For when a man hath taken infection, it presently mingleth with the bloud, and runs to the heart, which is the cheif part of man, and the heart putteth the venome to his cleansing place, which is the arme-holes; and that being stopt, putteth it to the next principall part, which is the liver, and it passeth it to his cleansing place, which is the share, and they being stopt, passe it to the next principall place, that is, the braines, and to their cleansing places, which are under the eares, or under the throat, and they being stopped, suffer it not to passe out, and then it is moved twelve hours before it rest in any place, and if it be not let out within the space of four and twenty hours by bleeding, it brings a man into a pestilentiall Ague, and causeth a botch in one of those three places, or near unto them

The Cure of the Plague.

When thou feelest thy self infected, bleed in the first hour, or within six hours after, drink not, and tarry not above twelve hours from bleeding, for then when the bloud is flitting too and fro, the venome is then moving, and not yet setled, and after it will be too late; those that are fat may be let bloud, or else not.

If the matter be gathered under the arme-holes, it comes from the heart by the Cardiacall vein, then bleed on the same side by the Basilica vein, the innermost vein of the arme,

If the botch appear behind the eares, above the chin, or in any other part of the face or neck, bleed out of the Cephalica vein on the same side; you may bleed with cupping Glasses, and Scarification, or Horseleeches.

If the botch appear in the share, bleed in the ankle on the same side, in any case not in the arme, for it will draw up the matter again.

[Page]But if no botch appear outwardly, draw bloud out of that side where you feel greatest pain and heavinesse, and out of that vein, the greif of the members affected shall point thee out.

If you perceive the Plague invade you at meat, or on a full stomack, vomit speedily, and when your stomack is empty, take some Medicine that may resist Poyson, as Mithridate, or Triacle, or some of these following, which, as choise Medicines, I have inserted, as being Doctor Edwards Experiments.

For the Plague.

Infuse two peices of fine pure Gold in the juyce of Lemons four and twenty hours, and drink that juyce with a little Wine, with powder of the Angelica root: It is admirable, and hath helped divers past all hope of cure.

Another.

Take two drachms of Juniper berries, of Terra lemnia ℈i. make both into fine powder, and mix it with Honey, and take of it as much as a ha [...]ell Nut in three drachms of honeyed water made up thus: Take a pint of Honey, and of water eight pints, seeth and scum it at an easie fire, till the fourth part be wasted: It is an excellent Antidote against Poyson and Plague; if the Poyson be taken before, it will expell it by vomit, if not, the Medicine will stay in the stomack.

Another.

Take Zedoary roots the best you can get, great Raisins, and Licorice, champ it with thy teeth and swallow it, if you be infected it preserveth without danger.

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Another for botches, boyls, and tokens.

Take of ripe Ivy berries dryed in the shade, as much of the powder as will lye upon a groat or more, and put it into three or four ounces of white Wine, and lie in bed and sweat well; after your sweat is over, change shirt, and sheets, and all the bed clothes if he may, if not, yet change his shirt and sheets.

Some have taken this powder over night, and found themselves well in the morning, and walked about the house fully cured.

One having a Plague sore under the thigh, another under the left arme-pit, taking this powder in the morning, and again that night, the sores brake of themselves, by this excellent Medicine sent by Almighty God: It is good for Botches, Boyles, Plague-sores, Tokens, Shingles, Erisipella, and such like, &c.

Thus farre Doctor Edwards Doctor in Physick and Chirurgery.

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Experiments tried by my selfe.

For the Plague.

TAke of Pillulae pestilentiales, called Ruffi, or of Pan [...]hy Magogon (or for want of it) of extraction Rudii, of each half a drachm, mingle these, into six pills for two doses, whereof take three at a time in the morning fasting, for two dayes together.

Another excellent approved Remedy.

Take eight or nine grains of Aurum vitae, either in Triacle water, or made up in Diascordium, fasting.

Another excellent sweating powder for the Plague.

Take of the powder e Chelis Cancrorum, of Aromatitum rosatum, and of Cerusa Autimonii, of each half a scruple, mingle these up together in a diaphoretick powder, and take it in four spoonfuls of Triacle water well mingled together.

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The Cure of Diseases in Remote Regions.

The Calenture,

HAppeneth to our Nation in intemperate Climates, by Inflammation of bloud, and proceedeth often of immoderate drinking of wine, and eating of pleasant fruits, which are such nourishers thereof, as they prevent the meanes used in curing the same.

To know the Calenture.

At the first apprehension it afflicts the Patient with great pain in the head, and heat in the body, which is continuall or increasing, and doth not diminish and angment, as other Fevers doe; and is oft an Introduction to the Taberdilla or Pestilence, but then the body will seem very yellow.

To cure the Calenture.

So soon as you perceive the Patient possest of the Calenture, (except the Chirurgion, for danger of the sign defer it) I have seen the time of the day not respected, open the Median vein of the right arm, and take such quantity of bloud, as agreeth with the ability of the bodie; but if it asswage not the heat by the next day, open the same vein in the left arme, and take so much more like quantity of bloud at his discretion; and if the body be costive, (as commonly they are) give him some meet purgation, and suffer him to drink no other then water cold, wherein Barley and Annise-seeds have been boyled with bruised Liquorice. And if within 4. dayes the partie amend not, or being recovered, take it again, open the vein Cephalick in one or both hands, bathing them in [Page] warm water, untill there come so much more bloud as cause requires. Suffer not the Patient to drinke seven dayes after he is perfectly recovered, any other drinke, then such water, as is before herein directed.

The Taberdilla,

IS a disease so called by the Spaniards, by the Mexicans, Cocalista, and by other Indians is named Taberdet, and is so exceeding pestilent and infectious, that whole Kingdomes in both the India's have been depopulated by it, for want of knowledge to redresse themselves of it.

To know the Taberdilla.

It first assaults the Patient vehemently with pain in the head and back: and the body seeming yellow, is some sign thereof, and within 24 hours it is so torturous, that the possest thereof cannot rest or sleep, turning himself on either side, back or belly, burning in his back most extreamly. And when it growes to perfection, there will appear red and blue spots upon the Patients breast a [...]d wrists. And such persons as have not presently requisite means applyed to them to prevent it, will be, by the vehement torment thereof, deprived of their wits, and many to cease their pain by losse of their lives have despairingly slain, and drowned themselves.

The Cure of the Taberdilla.

When you perceive it afflict the Patient, permit him not to lie very warm, nor upon feathers (for of what quality soever he bee in Spain, having this sickness he is laid upon wheatstraw:) Then immediatly open the Median Vein, first in one arm, and the next day in the other, taking a good quantity of bloud: Let him have water cold, wherein Barlie and Annise-seeds have been sodden without Liquorice (for the Spanish [Page] Physitians hold Liquorice to bee hurtfull unto them) so much as he will desire, which will be every moment; but no other drink, nor any raw fruits: Assoon as the spots appear, give him some Cordiall potion: and laying him upon his belly, set six Ventoses together on his back, between and beneath the shoulders; and scarifying them, draw out (if it be a body of strong constitution) 18 ounces of bloud. After which, and that he hath slept, he will find ease within twenty four hours, and such alteration in himself, as he will thinke he is delivered of a most strange torment. Then give him moderately nourishing meats, (for he will desire to eat much) the fourth day, give him some convenient Purgations. And if in the mean while he is costive, provoke him every day by Clisters; and warn him to forbear 15 dayes all other drink then what is ordained: And be very carefull of his diet, for if this Taberdilla, which we call here in England Gods Tokens, come againe unto the Patient, he can hardly escape it. And it is no lesse Infectious, then the usuall English Plague.

The Espinlas

IS a strange sicknes, usuall in those parts to such as take cold in their Breasts, after great heat or travell. It comes most times to those that lye with their breasts upon the ground (especially) in the night.

To know the Espinlas.

The Party having it, will be giddie in the head, and have pain and pricking at his breast, as with many thornes; from whence I thinke it is called, for Espina in Spanish signifies a thorn; and there will be upon the Focell, being the upper bone of his arm, a hand breadth above the wrist, a little kernell by the which it is certainly known: He that hath this disease, will have appetite neither to meat, nor drinke, nor can digest meat, though he be invited and moved to take it.

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To cure the Espinlas.

The Espinlas appearing by the former signs, take presently oyle Olives, and therewith chafe the kernell upon the Patients arm, using so to doe twice every day, untill it be dissolved; and laying oyle likewise upon his breast, stroke it upward somewhat hard with the hand; then spread fine flaxe upon it and the kernel, making it fast with a rowler, and within two or three dayes the diseased will be recovered thereof▪ whereas else it is very dangerous to deprive them of life.

Camera de Sangre.

LAxativeness, or Blondy Flux, proceed in those parts of divers causes: As by eating Grapes, Oranges, Limons, Melons, Plantains, and especially a great fruit growing in the West-Indies called Pina, like a Pine-apple, but bigger then four of the greatest which I have seen, which the Spaniars hold for the most delicate fruit that is there, and many other fruits. Also by sudden cold, or sitting (being very hot) upon a cold stone, or being hot by drinking water abundantly. And also eating of Butter, Oyle, and Fish is so hurtfull to the parties that have it, that they must refrain to eat thereof, and whatsoever else, that may ingender any slimie substance in the Intrals.

The Cure of the Bloudie Flux.

There is more possibility of cure, by how much more expedition the medicine is ministred: and detracting it, the Patients often die suddenly, without feeling much grief. For speedy and assured remedie, the Patients bodie must be cleansed of the sliminess, ingendred in the passages of the nutriments, before any sustenance can remain in his bodie. To that purpose purge him in the morning, with halfe a pint of white wine cold, wherein half an ounce of Rubard being smal [Page] cut hath been sodden, putting some Sugar Candie to it, to sweeten it, and immediatly after he hath so purged, keep at his navell Rosemary sod in strong Vinegar, applyed in the morning and evening very hot, untill it be stayed; giving him often Quinces bruised, and rouled in Marmalade like Pills, which he should swallow whole, and none of the fruits or meats before recited, nor any more white wine, but red wine of any sort: And if it be one the land use the Livers of Goats, (especially) Sheeps, or Bullocks rosted; not willingly permitting the Patient to eat any other meat: And if at Sea, Rice onely sodden in water, rather then any thing else usuall there, untill the infirmitie bee perfectly asswaged.

The Erisipela,

REigneth much in those Countries, proceeding from the unwholsome aires and vapours those hot Countries doe yeeld, whereof many perish; and if it bee not prevented by Medicines presently ministred to the Sick Patients, it proveth incurable.

To know the Erisipela.

Hee will be swoln in the face, or some part of him, and it will be of yellow colour mixed with red. And when it is pressed with the finger, there will remain a sign or dint of the same, and then by degrees it will fill again to the former proportion. It speedily infecteth the inward parts, because such swellings come sooner unto perfection in hot places, then in temperat Countries, and therefore the diseased thereof, must immediatly be provided of remedie.

To Cure the Erisipela.

The Savage people first found out perfectly how to cure this disease, (though it is the Spanish name of the Maladie) by bruising so much Tobacco as will yeeld four spoonfuls of [Page] juyce, and to drinke it presently after they are infected therewith, and to launce the places swollen, thereunto putting Casade wet, and made into paste, continuing in cold and shadie places neer Rivers: and not to travell and labour till they bee recovered: The Spaniards in India doe recover themselves by taking the same juyce of Tobacco, and setting so many Ventoses upon the swoln places as they can contain, scarifying them, and drawing out the corrupted humour so congealed, using the like in two or three other parts of the bodie, where the disease doth not appeare.

The juyce of Tobacco is very excellent to expell poison, and is the ordinary remedie used by the Indians, and other Savages when they are poisoned, and bitten with Scorpions, or other venemous creatures: But they make presently some incision where they are bitten or stung, and wash it with the juyce of Tobacco, then applying the same bruised thereunto two or three dayes, they heal it up with dried Tobacco.

The Tinoso or Scurvie.

IS an infecting disease sufficiently known unto Sea-fayring men, who by putrified meats, and corrupted drinks, eating Bisket flourie, or foul crusted, and wearing wet apparrel (especially sleeping in it) and slothfull demeanour, or by grosse humours contained in their bodies get the same,

To know the Scurvie.

Many have perished when they returned out of hot Regions into cold Climates, where they have had the parts of their bodies, which with heat, were nimble and tractable to every motion of the Spirits, dulled and benummed with cold, which is a token that this disease is ingendring in their joynts; and soonest appears by swelling of their ankles, and knees, and blackness of their gums, or looseness of their teeth, which will sometimes come forth, when there is no remedie used in season.

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Preservatives against the Scurvy.

You must have a care to preserve those things before rehearsed well conditioned, the badnesse whereof, in part breed this disease; they must use exercise of body, and such as are exempted from doing of labour, must hang or swing by the armes twice or thrice every day; they must not have scarcity of drink in hot climates, and coming into the cold, must be daily releeved with Aqua vita or Wine: It is also an assured Medicine against this disease, to have such quantity of Beer brewed with graines and long Pepper, as in the morning, twice every week, there may be given a good draught to a man, proportioning three quarters of a pound of graines, and three quarters of a pound of long Pepper, to a Hogshead of Beer: Also white Wine, or Syder, boyled and brewed with graines and long Pepper in like quantity, is very singular good: And it is not fit to suffer the gummes to abound with flesh, and therefore sometimes let them bleed, and cleer them with strong Vinegar.

To cure the Scurvy.

If the Scurvy be setled in his mouth, the corrupted and black flesh must be taken away, and his mouth washed with strong Vinegar, wherein graines and long Pepper have been infused and brewed, and give him daily the drink that is before prescribed; and as well such as have it in their mouths, as those that are swoln in their limbs, must have some meet Purgation presently; but those so swoln or stiffe (for so some will be without swelling) to scarifie the parts infected, and to apply thereto a Poultis or Cataplasme of Barly meal, more hot than the Patient will willingly suffer it; so doing every morning, permit him not to rest two houres after, although being nummed or faint, he be supported to walk, and suffer him not to eat any salt meats, if other meats may be had.

My self having eighty men, eight hundred leagues out of [Page] England, sick of the Scurvy, I used scarifiing, and to the places scarified (being destitute of the helps mentioned) I applyed Poultisses of Bisket beaten in a morter, and sod in water, which, with the comfort of some fresh meats obtained, recovered them all except one person, and they arrived in England, perfectly sound.

Other Observations concerning the Scurvy taken out of other Books.

1. THose that are troubled with the Scurvy, their thighs are stained with a violet colour, that one would think, that something of that colour were spread upon it, their gummes are corrupted, and their teeth loose; these ever are signes of that disease.

2. Some are onely pained in their teeth and gums, some otherwise; some doe never break out, others their whole thighs are stained.

Observations out of Sennertus, concerning the Scurvy.

1. MUltitude of passions, and change of diseases in it.

2. Greif of mind, and uneasie breathing and stopping.

3. Corruptnesse of the gums, and ill savour of the mouth.

4. Ach of the teeth.

5. Spots.

6. Urine.

7. Pulse.

8. Vein of the legs about the ankles, together with the hands and fingers, the nuch, the knees, and the moving of many parts, with swellings.

9. Pain in the belly, about the forepart of the belly, about the short ribs.

[Page]10. Feeblenesse and ache in the joynts.

11. Paines of the reines, and strangury.

12. Head-ache.

13. Plurifie.

14. Gout.

15. Benumming, and the Palsie.

16. Trembling, and panting of the heart, and shaking.

17. Cramp, pricking or shooting Aches, and Epilepsie▪

18. Contractions, and stiffenesse of limbs.

19. Apoplexie.

20. Over-much

Sleeping.

Watching.

21. Fear and sadnesse.

22. Madnesse.

23. Abundant bleeding about the nose.

24. Memory weak.

25. Ache in the shoulders.

26. Appetite decayed, thirst and drinesse of mouth.

27. Belching upwards.

28. Disposition to vomit, or vomiting.

29. Continuall spitting.

30. Loosenesse in the belly, sometimes with bloud.

31. Belly bound at other times.

32. Muck sweat, with ill savour of the body, and P [...]ysick.

33. Ill colour of the face, and yellow Jaundies.

34. Swelling of the legs, and Dropsie of the belly.

35. Mighty heat.

36. Fevers.

1. Quotidian.

2. Tertian.

3. Quartain.

4. Continuall.

37. Plague or Pestilence.

38. Swelling, or puffing up of the flesh.

39. L [...]menesse of the thighs and whole body.

40. Saint Anthonies fire.

41. Gangre [...]n, when the sore parts rot and mortifie.

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Cures for severall Diseases.

A Water to make a man see within 40. dayes, though he have been blind seven years before, if he be under fiftie years of age.

TAke Smallage, Fennel, Rue, Betonie, Vervain, Egrimonie, Cinquefoil, Pimpernel, Eyebright, Celydonie, Sage, ana a quartern, and wash them clean and stamp them, doe them in a fair mashing pan, put thereto a quart of good white wine, and the pouder of thirty Pepper cornes, six spoonfuls of life Honie, and ten spoonfulls of a man childs urine that is innocent, and mingle them well together, and seeth them till the half be wasted, and then take it down and strein it, and afterward clarifie it, and put it in a glasse Vessell well stopt, and put thereof with a feather into the eyes of the blind, and let the Patient use this Medicine at night when he goeth to bed, and within forty dayes he shall see. It is good for all manner of sore eyes. Wilde Tansey water is good for the eyesight; and eating of Fennell seed is good for the same.

For the Web in the Eye.

The Leaves of white Honie-suckles, and ground Ivie, ana, ground together, and put every day into the eye, cureth the Web.

Salt burnt in a flaxen cloth, and tempered with Honey, and with a Feather annointed on the eye-lids, killeth wormes that annoy the eye-lids.

For Wind in the Side, that maketh the Head swim.

Take of Cammomil three ounces, a penniworth of pouder of Cummin sewed in a Poke like a stomacher, boil it well in stale Ale, lay it to the side hot, and when it is cold renew it again hot.

Contra Surditatem.

1. Betonica saepe injecta tepid [...], mire proficit contra aurium dolorem [Page] & surditatem, & alia vitia, & sonos extraneos non sinit manere.

2. Rost an Onion as hot as you may suffer it, lay it upon the ear with a linnen cloth laid between. Probatum est.

Contra lupum, venit saepe super oculum aut pedem.

If it be incurable, it stinketh, fretteth, and the wound waxeth black.

Take Salt, and Honey, and Barley, ana, burn them in an Oven, wash the wound with Vinegar, and dry it with linnen clothes, and then lay on the pouder, and doe so till it amend,

Pro Cancro & Lupo.

Take half a pint of Juyce of Mollein, and half a pint of Honey, sodden to the thickness of honey, and mingle with these pouders, and lay on the sore. Take Orpiment and Verdi-grease, of either a drachm and a half, juyce of Walwort a pound and a half, honey a quartern, Vinegar, boil them altogether till it be as thick as honey, lay thereof on the hole of the sore twice every day, with juyce of Ribwort, and drinke juyce of Avence.

Ribwort stamped and laid on the sore will kill it.

Pro Oculis.

1. Lac mulieris quae masculum genuit, sed praecipue quae geminos masculos genuit, mixtum cum albumine ovi, & in lana compositum passiones & lachrymas oculorum mitigat, et desiccat, si fronti lacrymantis imponatur: & proficit, etiam ad oculum ictu percussum, & sanguine [...] e [...]ittentem, vel epiphoras habentem, vel in dolore constitutum.

2. Si quis duarum faeminarum, matris & filiae lacte perunctus fuerit, qui uno & eodem tempore masculos habent, in omni vita sua dolorem oculorum non habebit.

3. Eyebright juyce, or water, is excellent good for the eyes.

[Page]4. Annoint a red cole leaf cum albumine ovi, & quando is [...]ubitum oculo applica.

For Bleared Eyes.

Take the juyce Peritory, temper it with the white of an Egg, and lay it all night to your eyes, & quando removes, lava cum succo.

Cornes.

Annoint thy cornes often with fasting spittle: Or cleave a black Snail to it.

Take Woodsoure and lay to the corn, and that shall gather out the Callum thereof, and be whole, but you must first cut it about with a knife.

Apostema.

1. Gentian used twice or thrice in a week ad quantitatem pili d [...]struit Apostema.

2. Drinke water of Endive, Petty Morrell, with the pulp of Cassia Fistula.

3. Take Scabios, red Pimpernel, Solsickle and Fumitorie, make these into pouder; and use a spoonful thereof in the morning, especially in May. Probatum est.

Pro stomacho frigido.

1. Oates parched and laid in a Satchell upon a cold stomack, is an approved cure.

2. The crust of a brown loaf made hot and sprinkled with vinegar, and laid on a cold stomack, Salvabit. 3. A tile stone made hot and sprinkled with Vinegar, Eysell or Ale, wrapt in a clout, and laid to the stomack, is good.

Pro dolore stomachi.

1. Stamp Fennell, and temper it with stale ale, & bibat tria cocleari [...] simul. Seeth Penniroyall and binde it to his Navel as hot as he may suffer it.

For winde or gnawing in the Belly.

Take Calamus Aromaticus, Galingale, and a little Fennel seed, Cloves, and Cinnamon, grate or beat them together, and take them in pouder, or drink them with ale.

For the Small Pox.

Take Almonds, and make Almond milk, and take the cream [Page] thereof, and [...]ath the face twice or thrice, though all the Pocks be pulled away, it shall not be Pock fret.

Annoint oft the Patients eyes with a linnen cloth wet in the juyce of Sengreen, and it will save them from the Pox.

For a stroke in the eye.

Juyce of Smallage and Fennel, and the white of an Egg, mingled together, and put into the eye.

Bloudshed in the eye.

Five leaved grasse, stampt with Swines grease, and with a little salt bound to the eye.

Pro Oculo & Aure.

Sint calida quae aure imponuntur, & frigida quae in oculo.

For a Venomed sore.

Take Lavender, Marigolds, Sengreen and Betonie, and stamp them together, and lay them to the sore.

To make a swelling break.

Take pisse and Vinegar, and Sage M. i. stamped, and flour, and boil them together, and lay it hot on a cloth to the sore.

For the Squinsie.

Bray Sage, Rue, aud Parsely Roots, and lay them hot to the throat.

For Biting of a mad Dog.

Stamp Mint, and clear Leeks, and lay it to the sore.

To breake a Botch.

Make a Plaister of Woodbine leaves, and lay to the sore.

For gnawings.

Take Hearb Bennet, and Sheeps tallow, and oyle Olive, frie them together, and lay it to the sore place.

To increase Milk.

Pouder of Annise, and the juice of the bark of Fennell root drunke.

If milk be thick.

Eat mints, and boil mints in wine and oyle, and lay on the breasts.

For Botches, Wounds, and Sores, a salve.

Boil black Rosin, red Lead, and oyle Olive together; & flat emplastrum.

[Page] Qui bibit novem dies simul propriam urinam, nec habebit epilepsiam, paralysin, nec colicam.

Venenum.

1. Qui bibit propriam urinam, sanabitur a sumpto veneno.

2. Garlick, Rue, Centaury, graines of Juniper, valent contra venenum.

3. Pouder Hempseed, and mingle it with Goats milk, and let them boyle a little, and use this drink three dayes, valet contra inflationem, venenum, Bubonem, Felon, & squinanciam.

Pro Auribus.

Green Ash leaves burnt, and the liquor that drops out of them impositum valet.

Euphorbium pounded with Oil Citron, and laid hot on the eares, cureth sounding of the eares, tingling, and Fistulaes.

Caput-purgium.

Take the juyce of Ivy, and powder of Pepper, mingle them, together, and drink it.

For the bloudy Flix.

The yellow that groweth in red Roses put into pottage, and so eaten, is good for the bloudy Flix.

Vermes Stomachi.

The same yellow drunk in Ale. valet contra Vermes.

For a Felon.

Scabious stamped small, a good quantity of Tar, and greace ana temper them together, and all raw, lay them to the sore place.

For the Reines of the back.

Boyl your own water well, scum it, then take a quart of that water, oyle of Bayes one ounce, oyle of Roses one ounce, boyle all in a pot, and therewith annoint well the reines in the hot sunne, or against the fire.

Unge renes, cum nasturtio & propria urina jej [...]nus saepe, & juvat renes.

Coque mel & butyrum simul & unge renes coram igne.

Seeth Smallage, and temper it with Wine, and drink it fasting, and you shall be healed.

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For them that cannot goe upright for pain in their back and reines.

Take a fat Hen, and scald her, and draw her, and fill her with Sen [...] coddes Id weight, and Polipody of an Oak, and of Annis, Id weight, boyl her well, and strain her into a vessell, and take two spoonfuls thereof, and give it the sick first and last.

For the Stitch.

Take three handfuls of Mallowes, seeth them in a litte raw Milk, and put thereto a handfull of wheat bran, and let them boyle together, and then wring out the Milk, and lay it hot to the Stitch, apply it often.

Take a few leaves of Rue, and Yarrow, stamp them together, and wring out the juyce, and drink it with a little Ale.

For the Stitch in the side.

Make Balls of red Wortes sodden, and burne them in a new pot, and then grind them to powder, and mingle them with Honey and old Greace, and make a plaister, and lay it thereto when it is well sodden.

To heal Wounds.

Take Ribwort, Plantain, Smallage, ana. take well nigh as much May Butter as of the juyce, mingle it together, that it be standing, and put it in a Box that no air come thereto, and make an Ointment, and this is the securest Medicine for healing Wounds.

For swelling of Ioynts.

Bray Mallowes, and boyle them in new Milk, and make it into an emplaister, and apply it to the place.

To knit Sinews or Veins that are kickt or broke.

Take two Onions in summer, when thou findest two Wormes knit together, cut off the knots, and lay them to dry against the Sun, and make thereof powder, and cast it in the Wo [...]nds, and it will doe as aforesaid.

Ut virga hominis nunquam erigatur.

Formicas istas pulverisabis, misce cum vaccinio lacte & da cuivis in potu &c.

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Verrucae, Porri, ficus.

Cortix salicis combustus & temperatus cum aceto, & appositus, verrucas, porros & ficus tollit. Portulaca fricata tollit verrucas▪ Agrimonia trita & emplastrata cum aceto verrucas tollit

Stercus ovis si misceatur cum aceto, & fiat emplaistrum, tollit variolas & verrucas.

For Cornes.

Take Beanes and chew them in thy mouth, and [...]ay them to the Corn, doe this at night.

For Warts.

1. Purslane rubbed on the Warts maketh them fall away.

2. The juyce of the roots of Rushes applied, healeth them.

For a Wound that bleedeth inwardly.

Take Filago, and temper it with Ale or Wine, and give it him, and anon the bloud shall goe out by his mouth; and if the Patient cannot open his mouth, open it with a key, and put it in, and he shall receive his speech, this hath been proved.

If men have any blood within them of any hurt.

Let them drink Eufrase sodden with water, and anon they shall cast it out by vomit.

Aqua pro scabie, tumore, & prurita.

Ashes made of green Ashen wood sifted clean, and mingled with clean water, and often stirred, all a whole day, the water thereof, that is clear gathered, and mingled with a little Vinegar, and a little Allome, and sodden together, is a pretious water to wash with, sores of swellings, and for itchings, and cleansing of divers sores.

An vulneratus vivat, vel non.

The juyce of Pimpernell drunk with water, if it come out at the Wound of a wounded man he shall dye, if it come not he shall live.

Also give him Trefoile to drink, if he cast it out he shall die▪

To destroy an Imposthume, in what place soever it be.

Take the roots of marsh-mallowes, wash them and boyle them, afterwards take the same water, and boyle it with the [Page] seed of Fenugreek, and Line, then bake it with the bran of Barly, afterwards fry it with Bores greace, make thereof an emplaister, and apply it hot, and within a short time the Patient will be cured.

For Warts.

1. Agrimony stampt with Salt, and tempered with Vinegar, and laid on the Warts, within four dayes doth take them away.

2. Take the yolk of an Egg well roasted, stamp it with oyle of Olive, or oyle of Violets, and make it in manner of a plaister, and this will doe away the Warts in a night.

3. Rub them oft with oaken Apples, and bind a plaister thereof on them, and bray blossomes of Golds, and Agrimony with Salt, and lay them to as a plaister.

4. Burn Willow tree rind, and temper the Ashes with Vinegar, & utere.

Oleu [...] Nucum.

Take Nuts whole, seeth them in water, and then break them, and take out the kernels and stamp them, and then wring them through a cloth, and that Oyle is noble and mollificative.

Unguentum Dialaehaeae optimum pr [...] p [...]dagra.

Take Brocks greace, Swines greace, Ducks greace, Capons greace, Ganders greace, suet of a Deer, Sheeps tallow, ana. p. [...]. melt them in an earthen pan, then take the juyce of Rubarb, marsh-Mallowes, Morrel, Comfrey, Daysie, Rue, Plantain, Mace, Heyrif, Matfelon, and Dragons, ana. p. ae. fry them in a pan with the foresaid greace, secretum pro podagra.

For the Collick and Stone.

℞. Cepas Rubras, pista commixta cum mulvasceto, & bibe ealide.

Aqua propter ulcera & malum mortuum.

℞. Aquam fabri [...]otell. i. salviae, cuprif [...]lii [...]asturtii & m [...] dicum melli [...], coque ad medium, & lava locum.

Aqua pro alceribus.

℞. Apii, Salviae, Semperviv [...], ana. M. i. pista & coque in una [...]. 8. aquae currentis, postea [...]ola & adde, ℥. iiii. Aluminis, Medis, [...]. ss. Bulliet alumen m [...]dicum, adde ℥. iiii. Camphorae & reserv [...].

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Capitis dolor.

Coqu [...] [...] in malvazeto, & lava caput. Pista r [...]um, [...]um sale, & fiat emplastrum.

For Bones broken in a mans Head.

℞ Agrimoniae Contisam fiat emplastrum. Item bibe Betonicam p. i. & resurgant [...]ssa & sanatis pro acto vusnera.

Capitis dolor.

℞. Rutae, [...]derae terrestris, folia lauri, coque in aqua vel vino & fiat emplastrum super caput.

℞. Celidoniam, pista & coque cum butyro versus dolorem capitis etsi cranium cecidit de loco, &c. & lava cum decoctione ejusde [...] herba.

Corvi albi.

Attende cum [...]orvus habet ova, & unge ter vel quater cum melle, & pulli eorum eru [...] albi.

Ebrii.

Qui prins biberit crocum quam ad p [...]tationem inierit, crapulam vel ebrietatem non incurret.

Acetum.

Ut acetum redeat in vinum semen porri im [...]itte per duas noctes. Ova rotunda producunt gallinas, longa vero gall [...]s.

Fistula.

Hebba Roberti Fistulae emplastrata, vel succu [...] ejus in eam pos [...] ta eam curat.

Succus caprifolii naribus impositus, polypum recentem & cauerum, & fistulam curat.

Pro virga virili combusta cum muliere.

℞. Sume morellae & sedi & axungiae poreinae, p. ae. frixa & suppoue.

Contra exitum ani.

℞. Urticas rubras pista, & in olla terrea [...]oque in vino albo [Page] ad medium, postea bibe mane & sero calide, & faeces superpone.

Contra fluxum.

1. ℞, Cornu cervi, & conchas ostrei, combure & da pulverem mane & sero ꝰ dies.

Plaister of Paris.

2. ℞ Pulverem alabastri misce cum albumine ovi, pone super tempora & alia loca.

An virgo corrupta.

Pulveriza fortiter flores lilii crocei quae sunt inter albos flores, da ei comedere de illo pulvere, & si est corrupta statim minget.

Ut dens cadat.

Pulvis stercoris caprae positus supra dentem, facit cadere: cave alia.

Pro combusto cum muliere.

Take pouder of a linnen cloth when it is well burnt, and take the yolks of eggs, and mingle them well together, and therewith annoint the sore, and put the pouder into the hole.

A Drink that healeth all Wounds without any Plaiste [...] or [...] Ointment, or without any taint most perfectly.

Take Sanicle, Milfoil, and Bugle, ana, p. ae. stamp them [...] a morter, and temper them with wine, and give the sick that is wounded to drinke twice or thrice in a day till he be whole. Bugle holdeth open the wound, Millfoil cleanseth the wound. Sanicle healeth it, but Sanicle may not be given to him that is hurt in the head, if the brain pan be broken, for it will slay him, and therefore it is better in another place▪ This is a good and tryed Medicine.

Unguentum genistae.

Take Flores genistae, floures and leaves of Woodbind; ana, p. ae. stamp them with May Butter, aud let them stand so together all night, and in the morning make thereof an ointment, and melt it, and scum it well: This Medicine is good for all cold evils, and for sleeping of hand and foot.

Unguentum Augustinum is good for all sore legs that be red and hot.

Take Groundsell and Petty Morrell, and stamp them, and [Page] temper them with May Butter, and put them in a pot fast closed, and let them stand so nine dayes, and then frie it over an easie fire, and strein it through a cloth, and put it in a box for your use.

Unguentum viride is good pro erectione virgae, and for the mormale; no ointment worketh stronger then this.

Take a pound of Swines grease, one ounce of Verdigrease, half a scruple of Sal gemmae, this ointment may be kept 40. winters: Valet contra cancros, and for running holes, it fretteth away dead flesh, and bringeth new, and healeth old wounds; put it within the wound that it fester not: Put to this ointment, Pitch, rosin, and waxe, and it will be a fine heat for old bruises, swellings, and Mormales.

Unguentum nigrum, for wounds, heating and burning.

Take a quart of oyle of Olive, and boil it well, then cast in a quart of red lead, and stir it well with a slice, and boil it till it be black, and then let it cool; and keep it for drawing and healing.

Unguentum Rubrum.

Take a pint of honey, half a pint of Vinegar, and a portion of Verdigrease, boil them together, and it is good for all manner of sores.

Contra v [...]mitum.

1. ℞. Rosewater, pouder of Cloves, and Mastick, and drinke it hot.

2. Take Mints thre ounces, Roses half an ounce, Mastick one ounce, Barlie meal, and a crust of bread tosted, and this manner of Plaister apply to the stomack.

3. Rutae cochleare i. bibe cum vino vel cerevisia, multum valet.

4. Pouder of Gilliflowers strewed on his meats, staneheth immediately.

Note, He must eat no meat whilst he casteth (ut virtus maneat.

Fluxus sanguinis narium.

1. Hens feathers burnt, and the smoke thereof applyed to the nostrils stinteth it.

[Page]2. A pig [...] turd b [...]nt, and made into pouder, blown into the nostrils.

3. The juyce of Smallage drunk restraineth bleeding. Probat.

4. Succus menthae & rutae mixtus cur [...]t fluxum narium.

Contra Sciaticam.

Stercora leporis temperata et calido vino applica forma empla stri dolori.

F [...]eckens of the face.

1. Grease your face with oyle of Almonds, & bibe succu [...] plantaginis▪

2. Annoint your visage well and often with Hares bloud.

To know if a man be a Leper or no.

Let him bleed, and put the bloud into water, and if the bloud swim above, he is a Leper, and if it descend, he is clean.

For ache in the loins.

Take Waybread, and Sanicle, stamp them, and put thereto Bores grease, & forma [...]plastri calide dolori applica.

For a scald Head.

1. Wash thy head with Vinegar, and Cammomil stampt and mingled together, there is no better thing for the Scall. Probat.

2. Grinde white Hellebor, grinde it with Swines grease, applica capiti.

3. Take Culver dung, with Salt, and a little Vinegar, and stirre them well together, and therewith wash thy head, & sanabit capitis faeditates.

Ad ornatum faciei.

Take fresh Bores grease, and the white of an Egg, and stamp them together, with a little pouder of Bayes, and therewith annoint the visage, and it shall clear the skin, and make it white.

If the Liver rot.

Eat raw Parsely 9. dayes, and 6. dayes after eat Sage, and that will cleanse that the Parsely hath wrought.

Note, All Hearbs whose roots be medicinable, are best in Aprill.

For stopping of the Pipes.

℞. Leaves and tender stocks of Horehound, stamp them and [Page] seeth them well in Butter, then wring it through a cloth, cool it, and adde to that pouder of Liquorice, and of Hysop, mixe them together, and keep it in a Box, and when thou wilt, take a spoonfull, and temper it with hot wine, and use it when thou goest to bed.

Aliud.

℞. A good quantity of Hysop, seeth it in half a gallon of good wine, till half bee sodden away, and let the sick use it first and last, at evening hot, and at morning cold. Probat.

Aliud.

℞. The juyce of Cinquefoil stamped, and drinke a sup thereof with wine or ale, and it shall clear thee of much flegm, above and beneath.

The Plague Water.

TAke a handfull of Sage and a handful of rue, and boil them in three pints of Malmsie, or Muscadine, untill one pint be wasted, then take it off the fire, and strain the wine from the hearbs, then put into the wine two penniworth of long Pepper, half an ounce of Ginger, and a quarter of an ounce of Nutmeg, all grosly bruised, and let it boil a little again: This done, take it off the fire, and dissolve it in half an ounce of good Venice Triacle, and a quarter of an ounce of Mithridate, and put to it a quarter of a pint of strong Angelica water; so keep it in a glasse close stopped for your use: For preservation you shall take every morning a spoonfull warm, and lay you down to sweat upon it, and so continue to take it twice a day untill you perfectly recover. This water likewise cureth the small Pox, the Measels, Surfets, and Pestilentiall Fevers.

A Cordiall Water good for the Plague, Pox, Measels, all kind of Convulsions, Fevers, and all pain of the Stomack.

Take Sage, Rosemary, Rue, Celandine, Seabios, Agrimonie, Mugwort, Woormwood, Pimpernel, Dragon, Carduus benedictus, Rosa solis, Betonie, Marigold leaves and flowers, Centurie, [Page] Polipodium, Scurvie grasse, of each a handfull, wash them and swing them in a clean cloth till they be dry, then shred them small, and take the roots of Zedoarie, Tormentill, Enula campana, Angelica, Licorice, of each half an ounce scraped, and sliced, then take of the best white wine eight pints; put them all into an earthen pot well leaded, let them stand two dayes close covered, and stirre them once in the day, then still them in a Limbeck, with a temperate fi [...]e; it will be two dayes and a night in the still: keep the first pint by it self; of which you may take a spoonful at a time; of the next quart take twice so much; of the next pint you may give to little children a spoonful at a time: Lute the still well, that no aire come forth, and keep it in close glasses.

For a Child that hath the Ague.

Take the Hearb called Hartshorn, stamp it, then mingle it with bay Salt, and three or four houres before the fit come apply it, spread upon a linnen cloth, to the Childs wrists, and when the fit is past, apply a fresh one before the next fit, and in a few fits, God willing, she shall be cured.

For a burning Fever.

Take red mints two handfull, boyle them in a quart of running water, to the consumption of half, strain it, and put thereto four or five spoonfuls of white Wine Vinegar, and as much Honey, boyle it to the height of a Sirrup.

Take of Endive two handfuls, boyle it in a quart of water, to the consumption of half, take two spoonfulls of this, and one of the Sirrup, in the morning fasting, and at any other time you please.

For the Iaundies black or yellow.

Take of White Wine one pint, steep therein of the root of Calidon, the weight of twelve pence, of Saffron one pennyworth, a rase of Turmarick; bruise all, and bind them in a fine peece of Laun, and let it infuse in the Wine a night, drink [Page] a part thereof in the morning, one other part at noon, and the rest at night.

To bring down the Flowers.

Take of Alligant, or Muskadine, or Clarret, a pint, burn it, and sweeten it well with Sugar, put thereto two spoonfulls of Sallet oyle, then take a good Bead of Amber in pouder in a spoon with some of the wine after it, take it evening and morning.

To stay the Flowers.

Take Amber, Corrall, Pearl, Jeat, of each alike, grind them to a fine pouder, and searse them; take thereof as much as will lye upon six pence with conserve of Quinces, and drink after it a draught of new milk, use it every morning.

For the Mother.

Take a brown tost of four bread of the nether crust, and wash it with Vinegar, and put thereto black Sope, like as you would butter a tost, and lay it under the Navill.

For the Stone.

Take Saxifrage, Pellitorie, Parslie, Eyebright, wild Thime, of each two handfuls; of Raddish roots two or three, steep all in a pottle of red cowes milk a night, then still it, make of this quantity two stillings.

You must take at a time nine spoonfuls, as much Renish or White wine, and the juice of a Lemon, sweeten all with Sugar, and take it fasting, if your stomack be cold, slice a little Ginger, and put into it.

For a cold, cough, Ptissick, or any defect of the Lungs.

Take Horehound, Maiden hair, Liver-wort, Harts tongue, Germander, Hysope, Agrimonie, of each a handfull, wash them and boil them in six pints of running water in a pipkin, till four pints be consumed at least, strain it, and put the liquor into another clean Pipkin, put thereto of the root of Ennula campana in pouder and searsed one ounce, of Licorice so used two ounces, of pure honie eight or nine spoonfulls; [Page] boyl it till it wax somewhat thick, then set it to cool: Take the quantity of half a nut at a time, as often as you please.

The best time to make it is in May.

For a Stitch.

Take of stale Ale, two pints, clarifie it, and boyl therein of the tops of green broom a handful, then sweeten it with Sugar, and give thereof to the sick warm to drink.

Also take Beer, make it very Salt, put a little Nutmeg thereto, and drinke thereof bloud-warm.

Apply upon the grief outward, Fennel seed, and Cammomile made wet with Malmsie, as hot as can be suffered, three or four dayes together.

Or take a tost of Rie bread tosted on a gridiron, and spread Tar thick thereon, lay it hot next the skin, and let it lye 9, or 10 houres, and if the pain be not gone at first, apply it again.

For a Consumption.

Take a Leg of Veal, cut away the fat, and take a red Cock, scald him, and wash him clean, then let the Cock and Veal lye in water the space of three houres, seeth them with two pottles of fair water, and scum it clean: as the fat riseth, take it off, and seeth it till half [...]e consumed, then put in a pottle of the best Claret wine, and let it seeth together till it come to a qua [...], clarifie it with three or four whites of Eggs; let it run through a Jelly bag; then set it on the fire again, and put to it of Sugar a pound, let it seeth a little, then drinke of it warm three or four spoonfuls at a time, as often as you please.

For the Green sickness.

Take an Orange, cut off the top, and pick out some of the meat, then put therein a little Saffron, rost it gently, when it is rosted, put it presently into a pint of white Wine, keep it covered, and drink thereof fasting.

A speciall Water for all Sores.

Take of running water four pints, of Sage, Smallage, of [Page] each three handfulls, of Housleek a handfull and a half, seeth them together to the consumption of half, then strain it, take of Allum two ounces, of white Copperis an ounce and a half, of Camphire two drachms, beat all severally into fine pouder, put all into the water, and let it boyle a little, then put thereto of clarified, Honie half a pint, and let it simper a while, then reserve it in a glasse close stopped.

Wash the sore therewith, and wet a cloth therein, and lay thereto; if it heal too fast, lay dry lint therein.

For the trembling of the Heart.

Take a spoonfull of the spirit of Tartar when you find your self troubled.

Or take Lignum aloes, Riponticum, Eupatorium, red Sanders, of each two ounces, beat them, and boyle them in six pints of fair water till two pints be consumed; of the four pints that remain, being strained, make a Sirrup with Sugar, and while it is hot, put thereto of Saffron one scruple, of Ginger one drachm, of Musk two carets, Cloves, Nutmegs, of each a scruple and a half, keep it in a glasse close shut, take thereof a drachm at a time in a little Broth, or Burrage water, fasting.

For a Flux of the Womb.

Take Chalke finely scraped, stir thereof in whites of Eggs till it be thick, spread thereof on brown paper, and lay it on a Gridiron on the fire untill it stiffen a little, bind it hot upon the Navill.

Take Milk and set it on the fire, when it seeths, throw in a peice of Allum, which will turn it to a Posset, of the thin thereof, give a Glister in the morning, and at four in the afternoon.

A purging drink for superstuous humours, for Aches in the joynts, sinewes, and for Agues.

Take Sarsaperilla, Sasafrass, Polipodium, of each a handfull, [Page] Hermodactiles the third part of an ounce, Licorice one ounce, cut and slice the above named, and put them into a new Pipkin glassed, and having a cover, and put the [...]o five quarts of spring water, let all infuse four and twenty houres, then put thereto of Fennell seed two ounces, Raisins of the Sun stoned and picked four ounces, Carduus benedictus, red Sage, Agrimony, Maiden-hair, of each a handfull, put all into the Pipkin, and close it with paste, set it within a pan of warm water on the fire, and let it boyle two houres, then put thereto of Sena one ounce, let it boyle again half a quarter of an hour, and take it out, letting it stand covered two houres, then strain it without wringing, and keep it in a glasse or stone bottle.

You must take at a time half a pint in the morning, and fast one hour after, it will not purge in five or six houres, you may use it at any time in the year, but in extream heat, and in frosts.

A pretious Eye-water for any disease of the Eyes, often proved.

Take of the best white Wine two little glasse fulls, of white Rose water half a pint, of the water of Selendine, Fennell, Eyebright, and Rue, of each two ounces, of prepared Tutia six ounces, of Cloves as much, Sugar rosate a drachm, of Camphire, and Aloes, each half a drachm.

The Tutia is thus prepared.

In a Crusible (such as the Goldsmiths use) put your Tutia and with a charcoale fire let it be made red hot six severall times, and every time quenched in Rose-water and Wine mixt together; the last time cast the water away, and grinde the Tutia to very fine powder.

You must mix the Aloes with the water after this manner

Put the Aloes in a clean Morter, and pour upon it of the mixt waters, with the Pestill grinde it too and fro, and as it mixeth with the water pour it off, putting more water to it, till it be all dissolved.

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To bring the Camphire to powder.

In a clean Morter beat one Almond, then put in the Camphire, and beat it to a fine powder, without which it will no [...] come to a powder.

Likewise beat all the Cloves to a fine powder, then mix all together in a strong glasse, stop it close and lute it, that no air enter, and let it stand forty dayes and nights abroad in the hottest time of summer, and shake it well thrice a day.

The use.

Drop a drop of the water into the eye thrice a day with a black Hens Feather, the infirm lying on their back, and stirring the eye up and down.

If there be any thing grow upon the eye.

Take four drops of oyle of Amber rectified, and mix with half an ounce of the water, dresse the eye as before.

For any Ague.

Take a quarter of a pint of Canary Sack, put into it a pennyworth of oyle of Spike, a pennyworth of Sirrup of Poppyes, and one grain of Bezar, mingle these together, and let them stand infused all night, and exhibite it next morning to the Patient fasting.

For an Ague.

Boyle two ounces of Roch in a Pipkin, in a pint of Ale, about a quarter of an hour or better, then give the party grieved to drink of it pretty warm, some two houres before the fit cometh, about half of it, and what the party cannot drink at the first draught, let it be warmed against the second fit, and give it as before, after two houres be past, let the party drink as much posset drink as he can.

Another.

Take the quantity of a Wallnut of black Sope, and three times as much crown Sope, mix them together, then shred a pretty quantity of Rue, and half a spoonfull of Pepper finely beaten, and a quarter of a spoonfull of fine wheat flour; mingle [Page] all these together, then take as much strong Beer as will make it spread upon a linnen cloth, whereof make two plaisters, and lay to each wrist one, and sow them fast on for nine dayes; this must be applied as the cold fitt beginneth to come upon them.

To make Pills to cleanse the backe.

Boyle Venice Turpentine in Plantain water, then take the Turpentine, and bray it in a Morter to very fine powder, take the powder and mingle it with powder of white Amber, powder of Oculorum cancrorum, and powder of Nutmeg, of each half a drachm: mix them up into Pills, and take three of them in a morning.

A Bath.

Take Mallow leaves, Violet leaves, Endive, Motherwort, Mugwort, Rose leaves, Lettice, Cammomill, Bay leaves; boyle of all these one handfull, in a sufficient quantity of pure running water, and set in the Bath about an hour, then goe into a warm bed and sweat awhile, and when you come out of your sweat, and are pretty cool, eat Strawberries and Sugar, this will clear the body and purifie the blood.

For the Cough of the Lungs, and defluxions.

You may take sometimes of Sirrup magistrall, of Scabious and of Oxymell Iutianizans, of each one ounce, and of Diacodium half an ounce, and of Sirrup of Diasereos half an ounce: Mingle these all well together, and mingle with it also a drachm of pure flower of Sulphur finely searced; and take of this the quantity of a large Nutmeg three or four times in a day, at morning, an hour before dinner, an hour before supper, and last at night; it will cut the flegm, and carry it gently away, without any perturbation or violent trouble of coughing, and cause quiet rest.

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To cause a woman to have her Flowers.

Take of Gladwin Roots about a handful, boyle them in Vinegar, or in white Wine till they be very tender, and after put this into a Vessel on the ground in a close stool, so that the woman may sit over it very close stopped, so that the heat may strike up into her body: This Medicine is reported never to fail, but to bring them down: But you must have a speciall care that no woman being with child have this Medicine administred to her.

For the Cough of the Lungs.

Take of Coltsfoot two handfuls, of Hysop, and the tops of red Nettles, of each one handful, of Horehound, and Maidenhair, of each half a handfull, of Raisins of the sun, having their stones taken out three ounces, of Liquorice sliced half an ounce, and of Elecampane roots sliced one ounce, of Anniseseeds half an ounce grosly bruised, boil all these together in a gallon of water in an earthen Pipkin with a gentle fire, till the third part be boyled away, then strein it, and take a quart of the decoction, and put to it two ounces of Sugar-Candie beaten, and let it boil a little over the fire again, till the Sugar Candie be melted, then take it off the fire, and put it up into a glasse close stopped, and drinke of it three or four spoonfuls morning and evening so long as it lasteth, a little warmed.

For Cramp or Numnesse.

Take a penniworth of Saffron, put it into a little bag, then put it into three ounces of Rosewater, and stir it well in the Rosewater, then take four penniworth of Camphire, and infuse that in the Rosewater, and being so infused and mixed; chafe the place with it warm, and smell to it, as he bathes the place.

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For a Cough, Winde, and a cold Stomack.

Take four ounces of good Annise-seed water, mingle it with one ounce of spirit of Mint, and dissolve it with two ounces of pure white Sugar candie, beaten into very fine pouder; set it upon a chafingdish of coals in a peuter dish, and when it beginneth to walm, burn it with a paper as you doe wine, stirring it well together with a spoon, then take it off the fire, and evening and morning, take a good spoonful of it first and last. It will comfort the stomack, and is good against cough and winde.

For a Cough and Consumption.

Take of Lungwort, Liverwort, Hysop, Violet, and Strawbrrie leaves of each one handful, Licorice sliced, and scraped, Annise-seeds, and Fennel-seeds, of each one penniworth a little bruised, a Parsly and a Fennel root clean scraped, pithed, and cut into small peeces, twelve figs sliced, four ounces of good great Raisins having their stones taken out; boyl all these together in a pottle of clear running water, till it come to three pints, then put into it two ounces of pure white hard Sugar, dissolve it upon the fire with the other decoction, then take it off, strein it, and drink thrice a day of it, that is in the morning, about four in the afternoon, and last at night, three or four ounces of it at a time, and it will asswage the driness and thirst, and open the obstructions and stoppings of the Liver and Spleen, and cause your Flegm to com away with more ease.

For a Cold Dropsie.

Take Olibanum, and rost it in a Fig, and apply it to their great Toe: But if they be swelled in their face or head; then take anew layd Egg roasted hard, take out the yolk, aend put into the hole so much Cummin Seed as will fill it, and apply it as hot as it may be endured to the nape of the neck.

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For the Dropsie.

Take a pottle of White or Rhenish Wine, an ounce of Cinnamon, and a pint of green Broom ashes, put them together in an earthen pot eight and forty houres, the Cinnamon being first bruised; stirre them all often, and then put them up into a white Cotten bag, and let the liquor drain out of them, put it up again twice upon the lees, and then use four times a day of it, drink it cold, in the morning, one hour before dinner, one hour before supper, and when you goe to bed, at each time drink a quarter of a pint; if the greif be not fully removed, use a second or third pottle so made up, but with most persons one pottle sufficeth.

For an Ague.

Take as much black Sope as a Wallnut, and three times as much crown Sope, and mingle them together, then shred about a pugill of Rue, and put thereto half a spoonfull of Pepper very finely beaten, and with a quarter of a spoonfull of fine wheat flour, or as much as shall suffice; mingle all these together, then take as much strong Beer as will make it spread upon a linnen cloth, and make it up into two plaisters, and apply to each wrist one, and keep them fast on for nine dayes together; you must apply the plaisters just as the cold fit beginneth to come upon them.

Sweat is held by all experienced Phisitians, to be very good to cure an Ague, but they must be put into their sweat before the cold fit come upon them; you must use this twice or thrice before the Ague will be quite cured; and let them drink no other drink during their sweat but Aqua vitae and small Beer mingled together, but you must not make it too strong of the Aqua vitae.

To comfort and strengthen the Ioynts and Sinewes.

℞. Of the flowers and seeeds of Saint Iohns Wort three [Page] steep them three dayes in sufficient Wine, and then seeth them in a brazen Vessell till the Wine be consumed, then strain them▪ and put to the straining as much of fresh Saint Iohns Wort stamped, and steep it again three dayes, and afterward add thereunto, of Turpentine three ounces, of old Oyle eight ounces, of Saffron one scruple; of Mastick 3. ss. of Myrrh, of Frankincense, ana. 3. ii. ss, afterward put in the straining the space of a moneth, of the flowers and seed of Saint Iohns Wort one handfull and half, of Madder brayed, of fine grain wherewith Scarlet is died, ana. three drachms, of the Juyce of Yarrow two ounces, seeth them to the consumption of the Juyce, with earth Wormes washed with Wine two ounces, and a little Wine odoriferous.

For obstructions of Liver and Spleen.

℞. Flowers of Burrage, Buglosse, Marigolds, Violets, Endive, of each a handfull▪ Dates stoned three ounces, of the best blew Currans two ounces, sweet Fennell▪seed half an ounce, Graines and Coriander, of each one drachm, whole brown Watereresses nine leaves, Hysop stripped downwards nine little branches, of french Barly three ounces; boyl all these together in a pottle of spring water till a third part be consumed, then strain it, and when it is strained adde of the conserve of Barberries three ounces, Sirrup of Lemons and of Quinces, of each three ounces, this is to be taken morning and evening, nine spoonfuls at a time.

The Flowers are to be had at the Apothecaries, dry all the year.

For the Palsie in the head.

For the Palsie in the head, take of the oyles, of Amber, Fox, and Beaver, and mingle them together, and annoint the nape of the neck with them evening and morning, chafe it in with a warm hand, and chafingdish of hot coales.

And take of the oyle of Amber alone, and with your finger [Page] put some of it every morning into your nose, and take two or three drops of it, and rub it into your head upon the mould thereof.

And take two or three drops of the same Oyle, and put it into your Beer or Ale for your mornings draught, especially at the change or full of the Moon, for four or five dayes together.

Be sure to keep warm, and avoid going abroad in rain, misty, or moist weather.

Oyle of Saint Johns Wort for ache and pain.

Take a quart of Sallet oyle, put thereto a quart of flowers of Saint Iohns Wont well picked, let them lie therein all the summer, untill the seeds of that hearb be ripe, the glasse must be kept warm, either in the Sun or in water, all the summer untill the seeds be ripe, then put in a quart of Saint Iohns Wort seeds whole, and so let it stand twelve houres, the glasse being kept open, then you must seeth the oyle eight houres, the water in the pot full as high as the oyle in the glasse, when it is cold strain it, that the seed remain not in it, and so keep it for your use.

For the knitting together and strenthening of bones.

Give inwardly Knotgrasse, Plantain, or Ribwort water, with Sirrup of the greater Comfrey, to three spoonfuls of the water exhibit one of the sirrup, so often as they use it: There are also v [...]lnerary Potions prescribed for this purpose in the Dispensatories.

For the Courses.

When you give Oculos cancrorum (truly called Lapides cano [...]) to provoke a womans Courses, you must give her almost a spoonfull of it, mixed with some water of Motherwort, called Artemisia, causing her to drink a good glass-full [Page] of the water immediately after it; the best time to exhibite it, is to give it hot in the morning by four of the clock, and let her sleep after it, you must give it about those times she ordinarily expecteth her Courses; if you cannot get Morherwort water, you may use in stead of it Penniroyall water.

You may dissolve your powder of Lapidum cancrorum, either with juyce of Lemons, or with distilled Vinegar, and spirit of Vitrioll; If you put a greater proportion of Vitrioll, then of the other, it will sooner dissolve, you need but cover it with the juyce or spirits, and after some few houres poure off the spirits from the powder.

A Cordiall excellent good for melansholy, panting and trembling of the heart, swounding, fainting, coldnesse, and rawnesse of the stomack, and also for many other greifs arising from a cold and moist complexion, [...]ften proved with happy successe.

Take of Saffron half [...]n ounce, of Angelica roots finely sliced one ounce, of Cloves six drachms, Balm two handfuls, Rosemary tops four handfuls, shread the hearbs and roots, and beat the spices grosly, then put them, with half a pound of Sugar, into three pints of small innamo [...] water, or of small Aqua vitae, and let them stand infused three or four dayes together, after boyle them, and let the Aqua vitae burn, stirring them well together, till near a pint thereof be consumed away, then strain it, and when it is settled poure off the clear from the bottome; keep the clear for your own use, and reserve the bottome, which you may give away unto poor people, for it will be good and comfortable, though not so strong: The way to use it, is to take every morning fasting a spoonfull, and after every meal, at each severall time, a spoonfull.

A sudden way to make up this excellent Cordiall.

Take of the best of Doctor Mountfords water, ana. ℥. iiii.

Of very good Angelica water ana. ℥. iiii.

[Page]Of Clove water, ana. ℥. iiii.

Of Rosemary water, ana. ℥. iiii.

Of Balm water, ana. ℥. iiii.

Of spirit of Saffron ℥. ii.

Mingle all these together, and with as much sirrup of pure Sugar as shall suffice mingled, make it up, and put into either of these two Medicines, of Musk and Ambergrease, of each a grain. Both these are excellent Cordials for all the greifes before rehearsed.

Pills to purge flegm and Wind.

Take of the best Aloes succotrina nine drachms, of Rubarb, Jallop, and Agarick, of each six drachms, of Mastick four drachms, of red Rose leaves three drachms, let all these be beaten severally into very fine powder, and searced, then mix them well, and beat them up into a paste, with sirrup of damask Roses as much as shall suffice, at the end add unto it twenty drops of oyle of Anniseeds: when you have occasion to use these Pills, take about two scruples thereof for one dose made up into three Pills.

For the Gout.

Take of new extracted Honey two spoonfuls, a pennyworth of red Nettle seeds finely bruised, mingle them well together, and apply it to the Gout: Let the party drink every third day for a sevennight in the morning in his bed half a pint of new Milk, of a red or black Cow.

For the Gout, My Lord Denni's Medicine.

Take Burdocks leaves and stalks, cut them small, and stamp them very small, then strain them, and cleanse them, and when you have so done put them into glasses, and put pure oyle of Olives a top of them, and stop it close from the air, and when you would use it for the Gout, poure it into a porrenger and [Page] warm it, and wet linnen clothes in it, and apply it warm to the greived place, warming your clothes one after another, as they grow cold that are on.

Another, very good for the Gout.

Take the Yest of Ale, and spread it upon brown paper, and apply it upon the greived place pretty warm, the space of twelve houres: some first warm the pickle of Olives, and then bath the greived place therewith, putting their feet into it, and after use the former Medicine.

My Lord Denni's Medicine must not be taken till three dayes after the change of the Moon, then after it must be taken six dayes together, then six dayes before the full it must be taken twice a day.

To stay the Courses when they come down too violently.

Take half a drachm or a drachm of Diascordium, dissolve it in a drachm o [...] posset Ale, wherein formerly hath been boyled half a handfull of Shepherds purse, and as much knotgrasse, and of the greater Comfrey, and drink thereof a good draught at a time morning and evening.

For the Whites.

Take a quarter of a handfull of white Archangell, Plantain, Sheaphards purse, and of the greater Comfrey, of each half a handfull, of the hearbs Horse-taile, and Cats-taile, of each half a handfull, boyle all these in two quarts of Milk till half be consumed away, then strain it, and sweeten it with good white Sugar [...]andy finely beaten, and drink of it twice a day for ten or fifteen dayes together.

To keep the body soluble and to purifie the bloud.

Take Maydenhair, wild Germander, wood-Sorrell, and [Page] Balm, of each a pugill, of wild Mercury half a handfull, of damask Roses two handfuls, of clarified Whey six pints, let it stand scalding hot for an houre stirring it sometimes, after an hour is past strain it, and drink it twice or thrice a day a good draught of it; and if you wash your hands in Beef broth after your taking it, it will take away all roughnesse and haires of the hands, it may be taken safe of a woman with child

For the green Sicknesse, or yellow Iaundies.

For cure hereof first purge universally with this or the like purgation▪ ℞. of Hiera picra four scruples, of Rubarb, and Trochisces of Agarick, of each half a drachm, of rasped Ivory, and Hartshorn, of each half a scruple, of Cinnamon six graines, of Saffron four graines, of Diacatholicon half an ounce; infuse these things in the Whey of Cows Milk, or in the distilled water of Alkakengie, or in Dodder water, or Endive water, you may adde Oxymell thereto.

An Electuary for the green Sicknesse.

Take of Diatrion santalon, and Diarrhodon abbatis, of each one drachm, of Diacurcuma, and confection of Alkermes, of each half an ounce, of Diamargariton frigidum, and Calidum, of each two drachms, of rasped Ivory, and Hartshorn, of each one drachm, of all these make an Electuary, and give it evening and morning by it self, or with Dodder or Endive water, the dose is one drachm, protempore uno.

An excellent Powder for the green Sicknesse.

℞. four scruples of Gentian made into fine powder, of rasped Ivory, and Hartshorn, of each two scruples; make these into a fine powder, and give a spoonfull thereof with white Wine, or the like, at once.

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Another Medicine.

℞. Three or four spoonfuls of flemish Madder, boyle it in two quarts of white Wine, with a peice of Sugar, to the consumption of half of it, strain it, and let the Maiden drink thereof morning and evening a good draught warm, and walk, or use some exercise to heat the body, but take no cold; use this for eleven or twelve dayes together.

A singular purging Potion against the green Sicknesse, and all opilations of the Liver, and causeth young Maids to look fresh, and fair, and cherry-cheek'd, and will bring down their Courses, the stopping whereof causeth this greif, and it is good against all manner of itch, scabs, breaking out, and manginesse of the body, purifying the blood from all corruption.

℞. Of the roots of Monkes Rubarb, that is red Do [...]k, and of red Madder, ana. half a pound, of Sena four ounces, of Anniseseed, and Licorice, of each two ounces, of Scabious, and Agrimony, of each one handfull; slice the roots of Rubarb, and bruise the Anniseseed and Licorice, break the hearbs small, and put them all into a pot with four gallons of strong Ale, and infuse them all the space of three dayes, then drink of this drink, for your ordinary drink, for three weeks at the least, the longer the better, and make new as need requireth; it eureth the Dropsie, and yellow Jaundies also, if you put in of Cammomill one handfull.

For the green Sicknesse, or Iaundies.

℞. Of white Briony root sliced half an ounce, boyle it in a pint of Ale gently a quarter of an hour, and drink a good draught thereof, and sweat, and in your sweat drink it all, or as much as you can, the next day make new and drink again, but without sweating, and use some exercise to keep the body warm; use this last order twelve dayes together, use [Page] good Cordials and Restoratives, with sirrup and conserve of Fumitory.

For the green Sicknesse, and Iaundies.

Boyle of Rue, and Sage, of each a bundle, in a quart or three pints of Ale, with one scruple of Saffron.

To cure this disease, the Electuary of Steel is excellent, if the body be first purged, for it doth open all obstructions: but the Patient must use some exercise after the taking it, to stirre up naturall heat the better; the dose is half an ounce at a time to take of it.

The Steel for the Electuary is thus prepared.

℞. Of the filings of the best Iron, or Steel, as much as you please, grinde it subtilly and finely, upon a Porphiry, or red Marble stone, with Vinegar, then dry it at the Sun, or at the fire, and grinde it again with Vinegar as at the first, and doe thus seven times one after another, and thus you have the Steel prepared fit for you.

The Electuary of Steel is made up thus.

℞. Of the filings of Steel so prepared half an ounce, Cinnamon, Nutmegs condited, of each three drachms, of chosen Rubarb two drachms, of the species of Aromaticum rosatum half a drachm, of chosen Honey, and of fine white Sugar, of each one pound and one ounce; mingle these all together over a soft fire, and make it up into an Electuary. After the taking of this Electuary, let the Patient in all cases use some bodily exercises, being first universally purged, for this Electuary is most excellent against all obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, or other disease, and for the green Sicknesse.

For the green Sicknesse, or green Iaundies.

The green Sicknesse, or Jaundies cometh of yellow choller, [Page] mixed with corrupt or putrified flegm, and corruption of bloud, debility of nature, and faintnesse of heart; it happeneth also when the Liver is weakened that it cannot convert the nourishment into bloud, but the digestion is raw and crude, so that the whole body is filled with water and flegm instead of good bloud; it is cheifly found in young Maidens, who desire to abate their fresh colours, and, as they conceive, to be fine, and fair, and foolishly feed upon trash (which altereth the colour and state of their bodies) as of unripe Apples, Peares, Plums, Cherries, and raw Fruits, and Hearbs, or Meale, Wheat, Barly, raw Milk, Chalk, Lime, and the like, and they that have this disease are very pale and greenish; if they chance to cut their finger, no bloud, but water, will follow; they feele great pain in their head, with continuall beating, are faint, shortbreathed, and their naturall Flowers are stopped and stayed, to the prevention and cure whereof, the body must first be well and orderly purged, as by the Medicines before prescribed.

FINIS.

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Information about this book

Title statement

A treatise concerning the plague and the pox discovering as well the meanes how to preserve from the danger of these infectious contagions, as also how to cure those which are infected with either of them.

Edwards, 17th cent.

Edition statement

1652

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A37944

ID [STC]

Wing E190

ID [STC]

ESTC R207034

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

09808406

ID [OCLC]

ocm 09808406

ID [VID]

44138

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A37944)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 44138)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1355:21)

Source

— A treatise concerning the plague and the pox discovering as well the meanes how to preserve from the danger of these infectious contagions, as also how to cure those which are infected with either of them., Edwards, 17th cent..

Extent

[4], 66 [i.e. 146] p.

Printed by Gartrude Dawson,. London :: 1652.. (Attributed to Edwards (forename unknown)--NUC pre-1956 imprints and Wing.) (Imperfect: p. 66-96 lacking.) (Reproduction of original in the Cambridge University Library.)

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