I. WE cannot live with­out daily food; And from that food there ariseth not only our nou­rishment, but also severall superfluous matters following, which are the principall Causes of all diseases which cannot be absolutely hel­ped, although much mitigated by any temperate dyet.

II. In the Stomach undigested meat, Flegme, and evill humors, from whence proceed Choler and Melancholy, &c. and by consequence the Stone, Gout, and many other Infirmities.

[Page 2]III. Also in the Stomach, Winde; from whence cometh the Wind-Cho­lick, and vapours, which disturb the Head, and breed Headaches, &c.

IV. In the Guts, Stoppages of wind, and of digested Excrements; which di­sturb the whole bodie.

V. In the Uritory passages, Stoppa­ges of wind, and all moist things▪ where­with we nourish nature; which breeds the Stone and Stranguries, &c.

VI. In the Veins and other parts of the body are corrupt humors, which na­ture draweth, with the Quintessence of our food, for maintenance of the seve­rall parts of the body; from whence commeth the Gout, and Infirmities in the Eyes, and other parts of the body; which when strength of Nature cannot expell outwardly, then the same returns upon the inward noble parts, to destroy man.

VII. Excessivenesse of Heat and Cold in several parts of the body; which breeds Agues and Feavers: so that a man cannot easily help the one, without offending the other.

VIII. When nature, by reason of [Page 3] Age, or some other accident, falleth to expell these evills, although Physick may do much to take away the enemies of Nature, yet the same also taketh a­way the vitall Spirits, to the destructi­on of Man; so that means must be found, otherwise to doe the same.

That in the speaking of my opinionNote. to all these points, I follow the Method of my profession in the Law, to open and argue my conceit in every part of the Case, and cite Experiences like Judgements thereupon, and leave o­thers to argue the contrary at their pleasure, without any reply, and leave the successe to justifie the truth of what I publish,

1. HOW necessary our food is, every man knoweth; How it is our Portion, and Gods goodness in this life, see Eccle­siastes cap. 2. and cap. 5. And how mi­serable a mans life is without a good stomach to his meat, see Ecclesiasti­cus cap. 30.

[Page 11]2. That from the superfluities of that meat, after the concoction of it in our stomachs, there remains certain su­perfluous matters, which are like barm upon drink, and froth upon the best boyled meat, is the generall opinion of Physitians: And that the same are the principall causes of all diseases, which is plainly set forth [...]y Gratorolus in his Chapter of Exercises.

3. That the increase of these Super­fluities may be much mitigated by temperate Dyet and Exercises, as the opinion of all honest and godly men, whereof a man may see good directions in Ecclesiasticus, cap. 31. But how im­possible it, is for a man by a strickt diet, although he observes the Rules of Le­sius, to help this evill, a man may read at large in Doctor Primrose his book of vulgar errors in Physick▪ lib. 3. cap. 3. &c. And many learned Physitians doe maintain, that there is lesse danger in a little over liberall, than in an over spa­ring diet; whereof see Hippocrates A­phorisms, lib. 1. Aphor. 5. &c, and Rant­zovius, and many others maintain the same, and Lemnius de occultis in many [Page 12] places maintaineth the same; in so much that he spendeth a whole Chapter to maintain, that after a light Breakfast, a man shall be more able to eat a more liberall Dinner; and there is good reason for it; for that when nature hath no food to feed upon, then it feedeth upon the corrupt humors, which breeds unrecoverable diseases and a generall decay of nature, for want of suste­nance.

I leave this to every mans age and experience; but I finde it expedient for all men, rather to eat often sparingly, than to eat much at usuall meals, and especially at supper.

1. TThat after the dispo­sition of the meat in the stomach, there remains part of the meat undige­sted, it is too well known to moderate Surfeiters, and ve­ry often to foul and weak stomachs, and to old age: As for the time when the stomach hath disposed of what it can digest, that is after sleep; so Heu­rinus upon Hippocrates Aphorismes; and then a man must look to it, to re­medy [Page 14] himself or suffer great evils.

2. That superfluous matters doe a­rise after the concoction and digestion of our meat, hath been shewed before, cap. 3. That those matters are at first Flegme, which, being baked with the heat of the stomach, breed Choler, &c. and by consequence the Stone, is the generall opinion of learned Physitians; And Vanthelmont (a rare late Writer) describeth the same in many places, and sheweth how the humors are not of such severall natures, as they are ordi­narily distinguished, but originally are Flegme, and then baked to higher de­grees, and get other names, as Cho­ler, &c.

3. The seat of these humors are in the stomach, but principally in the mouth of the stomach, which is the principall seat of life, which Vanthel­mont describeth excellently; where he saith, That in the stomach, but especially in the mouth thereof, as in the very center point and root, is evidently set­led the beginning of life, of digestion of meat, and of the disposition thereof to maintain life, what then soever the [Page 15] Philosophers (or Physitians) did talk or think to be of great moment concer­ning the heart, whether they will or no, they have made it common to the sto­mach.

4. Common experience shewes this to be true in very many men, who can neither eat or drink in the morning, but loath the same, and are troubled with waterish humors, but cannot get away the same with all their fasting and physick.

5. How to avoid these superfluous humors, is our great labour, for other­wise they are the occasions of diseases, as is said before; and besides that, while they are in the body, they make our bodies like unseasonable Vessells, which doe spoyl the good meat which we doe put in our stomachs for our nourish­ments, so that it cannot be well dige­sted; which made Hippocrates to deliver the Aphorismes, lib. 2. Aphor. 2. Corpora impura, &c. That the more sustenance is taken into unpure bodies, the more mischief happens unto them. How far then doe they erre, who having foul dodies, doe endeavour to help them­selves [Page 16] with Caudles and Cordialls be­fore their bodies be cleansed, and made fit to receive the same?

6. Labour and Exercise have been accounted, and are the best ordinary means to wear out these corrupt hu­mors, and to help digestion thereof, for which purpose Rantzovius cap. 9. and Grator in his Chapter of Exercise, have written much out of many Authors; yet for all that it must be with this Limitation (Dum vires, &c.) while youth and strength of body doth last, and before old age come, or the body groweth weak with Infirmities: And let a man be never so lusty and strong, yet nevertheless excessivenesse of hu­mors in the body doe often kill the strongest and most laborious men, whereof we have daily many fearfull examples, which made Rantzovius, cap. 18. say well, That the retaining of cor­rupt meat in the stomach, is a strong destruction of the body; and cap. 50. saith, That the Plague it self cannot in­vade that man, who hath not corrupt humors. How farre then doe they erre, who think to weare out these humors [Page 17] by fasting and exercise, when it may be quickly done otherwise, with so little labour and trouble as before, cap 2 n. 1. And hereafter, n. 8. &c. I leave it to every mans judgement? and leave care­less men to perish in their own negli­gent wayes.

7. Lemnius de occultis hath writ­ten a whole Chapter of the rattle which men have in their throats before they die, and ascribes it to the contra­ctions of the vitall spirits, &c. and so it may be well enough; for that a mans breath is stopped by flegme and un­digested humors, which come from the mouth of the stomach into the throat, as well as an halter doth stop it out­wardly.

8. When all means are tried toVomiting. avoid both corrupt humors and corrupt meat in the stomach, vomiting of it up is accounted the best means by Rantzo­vius and Heurinus, and many learned Physitians commend it exceedingly, and say that the Egyptians and Caldeans u­sed it twice every moneth: And Fer­nelius saith, that it purgeth not only the stomach, but also all the other parts [Page 18] of the body, to the very heart. And finally, That as all evill humors doe come out of the stomach to disturb all parts of the body, by certain secret passages: So if the stomach be made clean by vomiting, the same corrupt humors return into the stomach again by the same passages, to be avoided by the ordinary passages of nature, which otherwise cannot be purged down­wards; whereof a man may read it at large in Rantzovius, cap. 18. and Fer­nelius there, lib. 3. cap. 3. and Parent his notable book of Chyrurgery and Physick, and many others.

9. How dangerous it is to procure vomiting by the ordinary course of Physick, I leave it untill you come to the eighth following pointe cap 10. But how to doe it otherwise with little or no offence or disturbance unto na­ture, and without observing of any cu­rious diet, or hindrance to a man in his Vocations or Journeys; that is my principall labour, for which purpose I shall shew this easie and safe way fol­lowing.

10. Whether it be in time of healthRemedy▪ [Page 19] or sickness, whensoever you finde any e­villInstru­ment. disposition in the stomach, eat a convenient meal of what meat and drink you please, then walk a little while after it: Then sit down with your body bending, and thrust the said Whalebone Instrument into your sto­mach, stirring it very gently, which will make you vomit; then drink a good draught of drink, and so use the Instrument as oft as you please, but ne­ver doe this upon any empty stomach.

11. To make the stomach more apt to vomit, and to prepare the humors thereunto before you eat and drink, Take the bigness of a Nutmeg, or more of the said Electuary of Cophie, &c. into your mouth; then take drink to drive it down; then eat and drink, and walk, and use the Instrument as before. There may be more or less of the said E­lectuary taken at any time before meat, as a man findes it to be most agreeable to the constitution and strength of his body, without any curious observance of diet or fire, or hindrance for a man to goe or travell about his business.

12. Some may think it strange to [Page 20] procure Vomit with this Instrument, rather than by Physick; but look upon Rantzovius, cap. 18. and other books, and there you shall finde them, to di­rect, that if a Vomit will not work, you must help the same with putting a feather into the throat; and many use a Rosemary branch: but these things doe not goe into the bottom of the sto­mach to stir up the humors (as the whalebone Instrument doth) which I leave to every mans experience.

13. Many objections have been made against this course, which never­thelesse I doe not finde by experience, that the same are of any weight, to al­ter what is before directed.

14. As to that which Physick books say, That vomiting more often than twice a moneth is dangerous, and may bring a man to an habit of vomi­ting, and so weaken the stomach, where­unto I doe agree, If it be done by Phy­sick, whose opperations are contrary to nature, as Fernelius saith. But this way I prescribe is naturall, which may ap­pear in little Children who are at Nurse, and are never accounted heal­thy [Page 21] but when they vomit often. Also the Dog is taught by nature to vomit, and all manner of Hawkes cast their castings every morning, otherwise they are not in health. And the Councell in Ecclesiasticus, cap 31. doth not ex­tend only unto superfluity of meat, but also to superfluity of humors▪ and di­vers old Commentators of that place affi [...]m it, to extend as a Councel to help and strengthen weak stomachs.

15. Others say, what good doth the meat when it is vomited up again, and that whosoever doe use it, have not the benefit of nature downwards? Where­unto I say, by experience, that all the meat doth not come up, but part of it, which is in the upper regiment of the stomach, and doth carry with it the cor­rupt humors of the stomach, which doth swim upon the top of the meat, and na­ture being eased of that burthen, doth work the residue of the meat more free­ly downwards, which may be found by experience; and also nature draweth quickly the quintessence of the meat to the nourishment of the body, to avoid all corrupt humors, so that the body & [Page 22] minde shall be more strong and free for all occasions, and shall be with far lesse trouble, charge, and danger, than to☞ doe the same by Physick.

16. In respect I have spoken so much of Vomiting, I will add the o­pinion of learned Fernelius there, where he saith, That if after a Vomit, the pulse being full and strong, plea­sant sleep commeth easie, and free☞ breathing, a good appetite, and the rest of the body lighter; then the Vomit is commendable, otherwise not, and very hurtfull: I leave the experience hereof to every mans judgement who useth it.

17. That although by vomiting, as aforesaid, a man shall avoid much thick flegme, yet by the often using of the said Electuary of Cophie, &c. Al­though a man shall by ordinary cough­ing avoid great pieces of blew congea­led fleagme, which I could not see a­voided by any other means. If a man will take a spoonfull of the said infusi­on of Tobacco in his mornings draught of Ale or Beer, it will add much good for this purpose, without lothsom­ness [Page 23] or trouble to the body.

18. Lastly, I have often found, that if a man taketh from two spoon­full to twelve, according as a man findeth by experience to be agreeable to his age and constitution, of the said infusion of Tobacco, cap. 2. n. 4. and drink it in a cup with Ale or Beer, the same is very good vomit: And divers lately have made the like Infusion in Posset drink; but I finde no great dif­ference in the operation thereof. Ob­serve when it doth work to drink good store of Posset or other drink after it.

1. THe principall cause of wind in the stomach is either undigested meat or undigested humors. Clear the stomach with vomi­ting, as before, and then you shall be clear from wind.

2. When a man is troubled with wind in the stomach, let him put the Instrument into his stomach, as before, a man shall finde great belching, and ease of the wind; and especially if a man take a little of the said Electuary of Cophie, as before, before you put in the Instrument, and then drink after it, [Page 25] as before, and then use the Instrument without stirring of it to procure vomi­ting.

3. Afterwards eat of the said Cor­diall made of Enulacampane, &c. cap. 2. n. 4. which is a plain cheap Cordiall, and is admirable good to comfort the stomach upon all occasions.

That any Cordiall or powders mayNote. be added or mingled with this Electu­ary, with very good effect.

4. Because men cannot ordinarily have the said composition, I thought fit to add one thing more, made with great ease, and of admirable use, as well for the wind, as also to dissolve tough flegme and humors in the stomach, as also to comfort the stomach, that is, Take Enulacampane Roots dried, pounded, and sifted, mingle therewith as much Sugar as shall please your taste, to take away the bitterness of the roots: Then add thereunto a small quantity of pounded Nutmeg and Ginger: Mingle all these together with a sufficient quantity of Sallet-oyl, Ho­ny, or other pleasant syrope, to the thickness of an Electuary. Take into [Page 26] your mouth, from the bigness of a Nut­meg to the bigness of a Figge, every morning or oftner at pleasure; then drink after it to wash it down, if you please; but if you will not drink, then this Cordiall will lie in the upper part of the stomach, and much comfort the same; but herein I leave it to every mans observation and experience, to observe what doth best agree with his own body.

5. I have also found good use of ta­king a spoonfull of powders of Nut­meg and Ginger, with a spoonfull of hot Waters for that purpose.

1. THe stoppage of Excrements in the Guts are the occasion of many evils. Gratorolus▪ fol. 180. saith, All Physitians doe agree, that health is principally preser­ved with, keeping the body convenient­ly loose: And let them all say what they will, unless the fore dore and the back dore of the body be kept open, as occasion serveth, the body will be quickly destroyed, with much relucta­tion and trouble. And how impossi­ble it is to purge downwards, what is not first digested in the stomach, all men know, and Authors agree.

2. This maketh Physitians to be so ready upon all occasions, and sickness, [Page 28] to give Pills Potions, and Glisters, &c. which are made of many and costly compositions, and require much obser­vances of dyet, and aire, &c. but in the end breed infinite inconveniences, as may appear hereafter, cap. 10.

3. To spare all this cost and curi­ositie, whosoever will use the said E­lectuary of Cophie: And then a man may keep himself conveniently loose at his pleasure. But if a man be desirous for this Electuary to work stronger, then one may add thereunto a small quantity of Sena Epithamum, or Ru­barb (which Physitians account to be safe Physick for old men, children, and women with child.) And then if a man take a pipe of Tobacco in the morning, he shall finde good use thereof.

4. In respect divers men are loth to take any Physick into their mouths, and especially little children are not able, when they are sickly and very pale with wormes, the said Suppositers, cap 2. n. 6. being taken from the Roll, and warmed in a mans hand, or by the fire, and used to what bigness a man pleaseth, but ordinarily to the big­nesse [Page 29] of the fore joint of your little fin­ger, and cast it into could water to har­den, and after anointed with the said oyle of Tobacco, and use it at your pleasure, with good success. Although it be not a quick worker, yet the same brings no danger of the Piles of Ulcers in the Fundament, by [...] using thereof, as other Suppositers doe (but rather heal the same▪ In the making of these Suppositers, [...]e [...] and pow­der of Commin seed, may be added to very good purpose for the wind.

5. If the same be used to little chil­dren,Note. it will much conduce for their health, and to avoid wormes, to have their bellies well anointed by the fire with the said oyl of Tobacco, when they use these Suppositers.

6. If a man hath not a convenient loose stool, then let him put in another like Suppositer presently. This may be used every morning or at any other time, as occasion serveth.

7. As the Suppositers commonly u­sed doe bring the danger of the Piles and Ulcers, so Glisters oftentimes prove very dangerous, by working up­wards [Page 30] the clean contrary way, which Doctor Primrose confefleth: And when a Glister will not work, then they must have the help of a Supposi­ter, as Wecker confesseth.

8. In respect I have spoken so much of the use of Tobacco, to work up­wards and downwards, let a man read Doctor Primrose, in his book of Vul­gar Errors in Physick, who maintain­eth the same, and also where he main­taineth, That if a Physitian prescribes a Vomit or a Purge, which works contrary effects, he ought to be bla­med, by reason of some inward and unknown causes. And for the admi­rable use of Tobacco taken inwardly, or used outwardly, a man may read many excellent things in Wickers An­tidotary, in so much as he calleth it the Panacea, or generall remedy for all diseases and griefs, besides the ex­cessive taking of it in smoak, which I leave to the censure of Democritus ju­nior: Besides that, it doth over heat the body, and bake the undigested humors in the mouth of the stomach to the destruction of man.

1. AS the Stone procee­deth from the said corrupt humors, so the vomiting there­of doth much con­duce to stay the growing thereof. Also if you make a Toste of manchet bread, with Salet­oyle, and then toste it again with hony, and eat it, and drink a good draught of Beer or White-wine after it. The constant use hereof is very good to pre­serve a man from the Stone, as I found by many experiences.

2. I have spoken so much before [Page 32] concerning the means of vomiting and purging, and how much the same doe conduce to preserve a man from the Stone, that I need not say any more thereof: Yet I must once again, upon certain evidence, say, That the often u­sing of the said Electuary of Cophie, and Tosts, doth exceedingly conduce to the help and cure of the Stone; to­gether with a temperate dyet, but espe­cially at Suppers.

3. I have heard lately from men of good credit, That there is an excellent remedy for the Stone in the Kidnies, by drinking of the liquor in the Tan­ners pits; and for the Stone in the Bladder, by using of the same liquor there with a Syringe: which I leave to further Experience; and will not trou­ble my self with it, while I may drink good Ale, &c. and help my self other­wise, as aforesaid.

1. THAT those humors come out of the Sto­mach to the severall parts of the body; and that those humors re­turn to the Stomach again, to be avoid­ed [Page 34] by the ordinary passages of nature, and especially by vomit, doth appear, by that which is before spoken.

2. The Gout is the principall, and reputed unrecoverable Disease, which commeth from those humors, and run­neth up and down into severall parts of the body, to seek some vent to get out of the body: In which case, although I will not presume to say, that the Gout can be absolutely cured, yet I dare say, that it may be much eased, so that a man may live long, without much trou­ble of that disease.

3. Although vomiting is the princi­pall means to avoid the matter of the Gout, as aforesaid; yet there be other outward means to draw the goutie hu­mor which remaineth in the Joynts; which may stand well with Hippocrates his Aphorism, where he saith, that where Nature swelleth, and offereth to vent it self, there it is to be avoided in convenient places.

4. Many be the wayes and means which are prescribed in physick books: But that which, after many experiences, I found best, is, to apply a Sinapismus, or [Page 35] Mustard plaster, as before; and that before and afterwards to apply one of the Dropaces, or pitch plaster, as cap. 2. numb. 7. which the learned Heurinus in his Method doth commend excee­dingly; and doth much condemne the neglect thereof; which he thinketh to be for no other cause, but because it is cheap.

5. It must be applyed in convenient places, as I cited before out of Hippo­crates. Which places I found to be most convenient, and with lesse offence (are these, that is) If the pain be in the Feet, between the great and little Toes, where the Toes doe part: If in the Heel or Ancle, to the sinews of both sides of the Shinne bone, over against the lower part of the Calf of the Legge: If in the Knee or Legge, a little below the Knee­panne, and, as before, by the Calf of the Legge: If in the Fingers, upon the back of the Hand, between the Fore-finger, and Little-finger, where the Fin­gers part: If in the Wrist or Arme, to the Inner part of the Wrist: If in the Neck, &c. then to the Nape, or hinder part of the Neck.

[Page 36]6. This Mustard plaister is to be used in this manner First, a convenient large Plaister made of Frankincense, Pitch &c. as before, is to be applyed to one of the said places for at least six hours; Then make a lesser Plaister of about an Inch, and not above two Inches in breadth, of the said Mustard Plaister; and apply it to one of the said places, as occasion shall require: let the same stay there for about eight hours, until the place blister and grow red: then take away the Mu­stard Plaister, and lay the other Plaister thereupon. If the place doe blister, prick the same, to let out the water. Take this Plaister from the place apply­ed, once every twelve hours, or oftener: W [...]pe the place affected, and Plaister, and so continue the same untill the place doth heal. Thus I have seen it of­ten used, and never miss admirable ef­fects; and without this course I have found all to be labour in vain.

7. Although men generally conceive the Gout to be only a waterish humor, yet, by the use of the means aforesaid, I have drawn out of the Feet and Hands, humors of the thicknesse of white of [Page 37] Egges; and when it had stood a quar­ter of an hour, it grew to be a substance, like leather; so that I could scarce tear it with the strength of both my hands: which I verily beleeve is the humor which congeals in the hands, and makes crooked and knotty hands.

8. Although this will draw the wa­terish and salt humors out of the joynts; yet there is an easie convenient way to draw it out of the Stomach, to prevent it from coming to the joynts, (that is) Take about the bignesse of a Nutmeg of the said Electuary of Co­phie, as before, every morning when a man is rising out of his bed: Then take into your mouth about an Inch in length of the stalk of a Tobacco leaf well dryed, and a little Cinnamon, to take away the loathsome taste thereof; which will draw the Rhume out of the mouth; and as it doth moisten, bite it; and sometimes a little of the juice of it may be let into the Stomach; and then drink some drink to drive it down: This a man may doe while he is putting on of his clothes, and oftener, as a man findeth it to agree with his body, with­out [Page 38] offence. But Tobacco leaves, or the stalkes thereof, undryed are loathsome and troublesome, howsoever the same are prescribed by Wecker's Antidotaries. I have known some being troubled with the Pox, have received great bene­fit by often drawing of waterish hu­mors with Tobacco, &c. as before: But I leave them to Mother Cornelius Tub.

9. I doe know that there are Infi­nite numbers of Bathes and Pultices prescribed for the Gout; but I have of­ten found, that boyled Turnips made to a Pultice, and the water wherein they were boyled for a Bathe, will serve as well as any others. Look more there­of chap. 11. numb. 20. the end there­of.

10. Also I have found a very good Pultice, by beating of the white of Egges to a froth; and then to mingle therewith ordinary Soap, and apply it to the grieved place. But if any skinne be broken it will burn, unlesse one of the Pitch Plaisters be laid on the place under the Pultice.

11. Also if there be any swelling or heat, after these Plaisters, take greene [Page 39] Hemlock and Vinegar pounded to green sance, and binde it to the place, or lay the leaves of Burres under the said Pitch Plaister, to the place grieved.

12. He that will not use these meansNote. to draw the humos out of the body, but repercussive means to drive the same back into his body, may shorten his dayes, and breed many diseases, as I have known it to happen often times.

13. Also the malignancy of these hu­mors may be known by this; For by the said application for the Gout I have often seen, That besides abundance of waterish humors, and thick humors drawn out, as aforesaid, of severall parts of the body, but especially out of the Knees, there came out thence an exces­sive heat, with much smoak, as if it were out of a boyling pot.

1. THIS is a strange thing, but com­monly seen, as in Agues, when a man hath sometimes an hot fit, and some­times a cold fit, with little intermission of times. And men commonly com­plain that they have a hot Liver and a cold Stomach. Doctor Primrose hath handled this Question among the vul­gar Errors in Physick; and makes it [Page 41] plain, that although the Liver be al­waies hot of it self, which over heateth the bottom of the stomach; yet the sto­mach is cold by accident, by reason of the noisome humors, like barm or froth, which come into the uppermost part of the Stomach, by evill digestion.

2. There be many Julips and curi­ous medicines prescribed by Physiti­ans to remedy this evill; and especially in burning Feavers; and these are of great use. But to spare much trouble herein, In hot diseases, and upon sur­feits, let a man drink oftentimes great store of cold water, and eat a conveni­ent quantity of Broth, Bread, and But­ter, and Cheese, and then vomit with the Whalebone Instrument, as before. A man shall thereby avoid the corrupt humors in the Stomach; and then a man shall quickly avoid these Infirmi­ties, and bring the body to a good tem­per; after which a man may drink strong drink, and wine, &c. with little offence.

3. I have known so much good done to all men of all Ages, who would first in the morning drink at least half a [Page 42] pinte of cold water; whereunto Sugar may be added, together with the juice of Oranges and Lemmons, to make it pleasant. That I must say, that I never found any thing of more use for the health of man; but I am afraid I labour in vain, in respect that most men doe abhorre it, as present poyson (as Do­ctor Primrose saith,) yet he sheweth the excellency thereof, by many experi­ences, and the authorities of many an­cient and modern learned Authors. For all this I have found many Doctors of Physick (with whom I have conferred hereof) to speak much against it; where­at I doe not much marvail; for that, if that be practised, which I have alledg­ed in this Chapter, there will be little use to be made of their Physick, and of the Shopps of the Apothecaries.

4. I must adde one thing more for the use of Good fellows, who use much drinking, &c. Let them first drink cold water, as before, to cool their Liver, and bottome of their Stomachs: Then the drinking of Strong drink, &c. will comfort the upper part of their Sto­machs; and much hinder the vapours, [Page 43] which fume up to their heads, from the excessive heat of their Stomachs: And their drinking of water after the taking of Tobacco is very good.

5. I have known divers men doe swallow small white pibble Stones, to cool the heat of their Stomachs; which I conceive to be in imitation of long winged Hawks: I have used the same my self, and they doe passe thorough a man downwards; but I found little be­nefit thereby.

6. I have known others that used to swallow small bullets of Lead; which giveth me occasion to report a strange history, which I know to be true. An old Souldier, and a Commander in Queen Elizabeth's time, in the low Countries, was drinking of healthes a­mongst his Companions, and at every health he did drink a Pistoll bullet, to the number of eighteen; which conti­nued in his belly for neer the space of two years, with much pain and grief: He acquainted a Physition with this case, who did hang the Souldier by the Heels, by a beam in the Chamber; and then all the bullets dropped out of his [Page 44] mouth again; but the same were some­what worn in his Belly. This Souldier is yet living, and in good health, and a­bout fourscore and ten years of age.

7. I have spoken so much of the cooling of the Stomach, that it may be expected I should write somewhat of warming of cold Stomachs: But I finde every man so ready to take Tobacco, and to drink Wines, and strong drinks, that I need say no more thereof; But, as I have said before, so I say still, keepe the Stomach clean, with the said Whale­bone Instrument, when you finde any disturbance or loathsomnesse therein: And keep the lower parts conveniently loose, with the said Suppositers: And draw out the humors which trouble the outward parts, with the said Plaisters, &c. And keep the body in a temperate heat, as before; and avoid intemperan­cy in dyet; then there will be little use of Physick.

1. I Know divers have carpt exceedingly against all Physi­tians, and their whole profession and Medicines, whereof a man may read much in Cor­nelius Agrippa, de vanitate Scientia­rum, and Democritus Iunior, and many others cited by him, and the late booke [Page 46] of Mr. Biggs, intituled, The vanity of the Craft of Physick. But I much ho­nour and admire the skill and know­ledge of such of them as are honest and learned.

2. As for Emporiques, Mounte­banks, Quacksalvers, and the like, every place is too full of them, which will cure all diseases with one Antidote. Dr. Primrose hath well discovered the Er­rors of the People concerning them, &c.

3. That the common course of pur­gative Physick is dangerous, by reason of the venemous qualities of the Medi­cines, appeareth by that which is said be­fore, and by the authority of Fernelius and Rantzovius, and all modest Physiti­ans: And the often use thereof is very inconvenient, as those Authors, and Do­ctor Primrose ingeniously confesse: And that when ordinary Physick fai­leth, the best way is to leave the pati­ent to God and Nature.

4. What infinite number of Medi­cines, and what strange compositions are for every disease, & with what cost­ly materials the same are made, every [Page 47] man may see in Weckerus his Antidota­rium Basiliense, and divers others dis­pensatories; besides a great deal of cu­rious observations must be used at the taking thereof.

5. What diversities of opinions there are about the compounding and admi­nistring of these Medicines, and the or­dering of the patient to use them, whe­ther they be naturall things, after the form of the Galenists, or Chimicall, af­ter the prescripts of the Paracelsians; or mixt, as Doctor Primrose, and the wiser sort conceived, there are as many controversies amongst them, as there were ever between the Pope and Lu­ther, about matters of Religion. Then what shall the poor sick patient doe, especially, if there be a Colledge of such Physitians called to consult about this desperate case, but stand quaking like a poor condemned prisoner at the barre, expecting to have his finall Judgement, to be sent to the place of execution.

1. FOr Scabs and LiceHead. in the Head, rub the scabby place with the said infu­sion of Tobacco.

2. For sore orEyes. decaying Eyes, take fine Linnen clothes, and moisten them in the said infusion of Tobacco, and binde them to your Eyes, as you are going to bed, for the space of five or six nights, one after the other. I have known very many, who were almost blinde, cured in a short space by this means; and never any missed.

3. There happened a strange cure to a Servant of mine, who was stark blinde for three quarters of a year, which I thought meet to discover. As he was led [Page 49] by his wife (a poor woman) wished her to breath often in the morning fasting in both his eyes by turns, one after the other, which she did accordingly; this made him to have a great itch in his eyes, which made him rub his eyes of­ten, and with his nayles he drew some slime out of his eyes; so that at three dayes end he began to see, and shortly after he perfectly recovered his eye­sight. This was about twenty yeers past, and he is now perfectly well and of 66. yeers of age.

4. If a man will take a linnen ragge, orNose. brown paper, and moisten it in the said infusion of Tobacco, and put it in his nose, & draw his breath upwards, it will purge the head and eyes; and if there be any Ulcers, in the Nose (as most men have, who are troubled with the Poxe) it will much help them.

5. If a man doth bleed over much at the Nose, let a man stand behinde the party troubled, and with both his thumbs presse hard both sides of the upper part of the back-bone upon the neck, it will presently stopp the blood.Eares.

6. For deafnesse and noyse in the [Page 50] Eares, drop the said Oyle of Tobacco cap. 2. n. 7. into the Eares often, but e­specially at your going to bed: Stop them with a Paste made of Figgs and Mustard▪seed pounded, and sifted, and mingled with the said Oyle, which be­ing used without the Oyle will be trou­blesome; and be sure to keep your Eares very warm with a Cap.

7. Although I doe not know anyTeeth. present cure for the Toothache; yet I say, that whosoever will use the stalks of Tobacco as before, it will doe him much good, and be a great occasion to fasten the Teeth: also if the said Sina­pismus, and Pitch plaister be applyed behinde the lower part of the Eare, it will doe much good.

8. The Headache commeth principal­lyHead­ache. from the fumes of the stomach, who­soever will cleer the Stomack as before, but especially use to drink water in the mornings, and before meals as before, it will be a principall means to keep a man from the Head-ache.

9. He who will use to drink coldThroat. water as before, it will preserve him from the Toad-evill, and especiallly [Page 51] before drinking of Wine, &c. And then Wine and stronge Drinks will be lesse offensive to a man.

10. I know some that have lain sick of the Small-pox, and their breath al­most stopped; yet by the use of the Whalebone-Instrument, as before the blisters of the Pox were broken in the Throat, and they vomitted and were cured.

11. One was in a deep Consump­tion, and when all Physick failed, by u­sing the Whalebone-Instrument as be­fore, there was an Imposthume broken in the Stomach, and the party perfectly cured, after many Physitians had given him over.

12. It often happens that men have great I che in Bones close by the Throat, and in the▪ upper part of the Back-bone by the Neck, and sometimes Lice come out of the same, if the said Pitch-plaisters be applyed thereunto, it will draw much water therehence, and cure the same.

13. I have seen Wennes in the Throat, and the Kings-Evill often cu­red, with the application of the said [Page 52] Pitch-plaister, mingled with Verdi­grease without breaking the skinne.

14. I have known many ChildrenBelly and Guts, &c. very sick of the Worms, unto whom some of the infusion of Tobacco was given in drink, and their bellyes were annoynted with the said Oyle of Tobacco, holding them to the fire, and then using the said suppositers, whereby they avoyded great store of Worms and were perfectly cured.

15. For the Winde in the Stomach,Winde. look before cap. 5. But for the Winde in the Guts, the said Suppositers ming­led with powdered Cummin-seed, is an admirable remedy for it.

16. It is a common evill to old ageKnees and Leggs. to have weake Knees, especially when men doe ride in cold weather: For re­medy whereof let a man have a Plaister made of the said Pitch-plaister, applyed to cover the Pans of both Knees, and continued, which will doe very much good.

17. It is a common evill to haveLeggs. Ulcers and Caukers in Leggs, especially in old age, for remedy whereof, keep the Stomach clean as before, and the u­sing [Page 53] of the Tobacco stalks as before, will doe much good: But for outward applications, let linnen cloth be made wet in the said infusion of Tobacco, and apply it to the sore place: I have known some have the Flesh consumed from the Bones, and the Bones scraped with a Knife, and being very old, yet cured by this means, and the Flesh restored again.

18. For the Gout in the Feet, I re­ferFeet. it to what hath been spoken before: But for a common pain which men have in the bottome of their Feet, whether they have the Gout or no, let a man lay to the sore place one of the said Pitch­plaisters, and then put in his shoes the warm water wherein powder Beef, or Cow-heels were boyled, or Tobacco and Ale or Urine well boyled, and wherein store of Bay-Salt is dissolved, and let him walk as well as he can, he shall finde very much good; so that the Shoes be big and large: I have seen more by the using hereof; than by any Baths or Oyntments, or any other out­ward means, saving the drawing out of the humor as aforesaid. cap. 8.

19. Some may question, whether [Page 54] the having of the Gout, be a great means to cure all diseases: I will not presume to decide the question, but say, that I have found much benefit thereby, with little trouble, and leave every man to his own sense; for whereas I had preserved my self from the Gout, for a­bove one yeer, partly by Repercussive Medicines in my Shoes, and partly by Attractive Remedies in drawing the humors into my mouth as before: In the end I had a great noyse and deafness in my Eares, pains, and strange dreams in my sleep, much disturbance in my Stomach, great heat and itching over all my Body, &c. But when the Gout came again upon me, I was cleered from all these evills; so that I might say, (Silentia cuncta tranquilla sunt om­nia) saving, that when I had the Gout again, I did quickly and easily rid my self thereof, by drawing out the humors as I have before declared, which makes me believe that these humors were ven­ted from all parts of the Body, as men doe usually draine Quagmires.

20. Lastly, seeing I have spoken so much of this disease of the Gout, to be a [Page 55] generall cure, for all other diseases, I think meet to add somewhat concer­ning what dyet a man should use, when he hath the Gout. Before a man hath the Gout, a temperate dyet is best to preserve a man from it, but especially▪ to avoyd the moderate use of strong sharp Drinks and Wines, hot Spices, salt Meats, Tobacco, &c. But when a man hath the Gout, and is desirous to be rid thereof quickly, a man may make a more liberall use of these things, which will urge nature to make more speedy vent, of the corrupt humors, from all parts of the Body, into some outward part of the Body, to be drawn out by outward applications as aforesaid, this may seem to be a Paradex but constant experience hath made me to presume to write so much: and then whether it be better to endure a little pain and la­bor for a short time, which bringeth so much good to all the Body, and as I conceive prolongeth health, or to leave the Body to be continually troubled with languishing diseases, and to run up and down to the Bathe, Physitians, and Apochecaries, to their great charge [Page 56] and expence, I leave it to every mans judgement; and for a mans better satis­faction herein, he may read the witty & eloquent Apologie of learned Rilibal­dus in praise of the Gout.

Thus I have made an end, of shewingConclu­sion. a great part of the miserable case of mens Bodies, which comes to them by unavoydable course of nature, with shewing my well wishes to remedy the same, hoping that this may move some honest and learned Physitians to make more additions of more Artificiall Me­dicines thereunto, for relieving of mens miseries in those cases: But I am afraid of another greater misery, spoken of by the learned Physitian in his Preface Gratorolus, wherein he doth much la­ment the miserable negligence of man­kinde, who never▪thinks of the preser­ving of health untill it be too late, af­ter the losse thereof: And for my part I shall end with that honest wish (Optan­dum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano) that in every man there may be an ho­nest and sound Soul in a sound Body: And so we shall all make a good end.