wine, and the pouder of Turpentine, dryed in the Sun, and so drinke:
This is an excellent Medicine to drive out the stone.
_To cause Urine and break the Stone._
Take Parsely, and stamp it in White wine, then strain it well, and
drinke a good draught thereof, and this will cause you to make water,
and break the stone; but you must use this five or six times. _Probat._
℞. Pouder of Brionie berries, and drink it in water, wherein
Water-cresses have been boyled, and it will both help you, and give you
ease.
_For the Stone._
℞. The bloud of two Hares, as much Sheeps or Goats milk, mingle them
well together, and boil them in a new pot to a coal, beat it to pouder,
and searce it finely, and give the Patient hereof a good quantity in a
little fountain water, luke-warm, this will break the stone to dust,
and make it come away. To try this, put the stone into it, with a
little water bloud-warm, and in half an hour it will dissolve it into
peeces.
2. Take five Cloves of Garlick, and stamp, and strain them in a draught
of Rhennish wine, and so drink it. This being taken three times
together is a sure Remedie.
_For the Stone in Reins and Bladder._
1. Scrape Sea-horse pissle to pouder, and drinke thereof every morning
with white wine, and a little oyle of Almonds, and this will cure the
stone of the Kidnies and Bladder, being given four ounces at a draught.
2. Pouder of _Manati_, which is a stone growing in a Sea-cows head,
being exhibited in the aforesaid manner, will doe the like. The white
for the man, and the yellow for the woman.
3. ℞ Spikenard, Carraway, Fennel, Annise, and Cummin-seeds, Cinnamon,
and Galingale, _ana_, ℥ ß. Gromwell seed, and Liquorice, _ana_ ℥ i.
beat them all into pouder, and take half a spoonful of this pouder in
Ale or Beer warmed, and after walk an hour before you eat or drinke,
doe this four or five times, and you shall finde a notable operation.
_A Posset for the Stone._
Make a Posset very thinne and clear with a quart of Milk, and put into
it eight or ten roots of _Althea_, and two Parsly roots, having their
pithes taken out, and two Asparagus roots picked and washed clean, so
that no durt be on it, and let them boyle well in the Milk-Posset; then
strain it clean, and let the Patient drink a good draught, put into it
as much _Sal prunellæ_ as will make it somewhat Brackish; this is a
safe and admirable Medicine.
2. ℞. The braines of a Magpy newly killed, and put it into a wine
Glasse of white Wine, and stir it well till it be throughly mixed, and
then drink it, and this will presently cause Urine, and ease the pain.
_For the Spleen._
Seeth the rindes, and keyes, of an Ash tree very tender and well
in white Wine, and drink a good draught thereof for six or seven
mornings together, it doth much ease the Patient: when you drink this,
annoint the Spleen with _Dialthea_ every morning and evening, applying
_Emplastrum de Meliloto pro Splene_ to the place. _Probat._
_Another._
Put of oyle of Gold one drachm, into half a pound of Anniseseed-water,
shake it well together every time you take of it, and take a spoonful
at a time, and it will help you. _Probat._
Heat a pair of Tongs six times red hot, and quench them in white Wine;
drink this nine mornings together, and this will help the Spleen.
_For Swelling of Armes, Legs, and Feet._
℞. Linseed, Wheat, Bran, Brooklime, Chickweed, and Groundsel, _ana._
one handful, seeth them in a pottle of white Wine altogether till it be
thick, then lay a plaister thereof to the swollen place as hot as you
can suffer it, and it will help it with three or four plaisters.
_For Sinewes, and Nerves, cut asunder._
℞. Of Earth-wormes one handful, put them in a cloth, and cleanse them
well from the earth, that done, take Sack half a pound, and of Sallade
oyle half a pound, mix them together, and infuse the Wormes in this
untill they be suffocated, then stop the pot very close, and lute it
well, and set the pot in hot horse-dung for eight and forty houres,
till the Wormes be rotten, then take them out and presse them, and
adde thereto of common Oyle half an ounce, of _Venice_ Turpentine two
drachms, then relute your pot, and set it on a soft fire for three or
four houres.
_For Bruises, or streined Sinewes._
1. Annoint the place greived with _Aqua composita_, and Neat-foot oyle
luke-warm, laying hot clothes thereon.
2. Stamp live Earth-wormes, and apply them to Sinewes cut.
_For shrinking of Sinewes._
℞. Two Swallowes nests that are ready to fly, of Lavender Cotton,
the tops of young Thyme, the strings that run out of Strawberries,
Cammomil, and Hollihock leaves, _ana._ one handful; stamp the Swallowes
quick and the Hearbs together, till no feathers be seen, then put
thereto of _May_ Butter one pound or two, and stamp it again to a
salve, and let it stand again close for seven dayes; then seeth it the
space of two houres with a quick fire, stirring it still; then strain
it thorough a course cloth, and annoint the joynts therewith, or any
other place where the Sinewes are shrunk, and use often to stretch out
the joynts and splint.
_For Sinewes shrunk, and to supple impotent Limbs._
℞. Rosemary, Thyme, Parsly, Hysop, Bayes, Sage, Lavender Spike,
Lavender Cotton, Balm, Cammomil, Roman Wormwood, Brooklime, Smallage,
Yarrow, red Nettles, Lovage, Hearb Robert, Plantain, Rag-wort, Vervain,
Adders-tongue, Daises, Nightshade, Comfry, Orpine, Strawberry strings,
Violet leaves, Walwort, Amber leaves, Southernwood, Knotgrasse, Vine
tops, Valerian, Honisuckle leaves, Polipodium of the Oak, Dill,
Mallowes, Perwinckle, Rue, of these one handful, slice them a little,
and stamp them very small in a Morter, with powder of Cloves bruised
small, put thereto oyle Olive, and Neats-foot oyle, so much that
they may swim, mixing them together, set it on the fire till all the
strength of the Hearbs be boyled out, and take heed it doe not burn;
then strain out the Hearbs, and clarifie it over the fire, then put
to it a little Wax to harden it withall: this Ointment should be made
between _May_ and _Bartholomewtide._ _Probat._
_To cure an old Sore._
℞. Of fresh Butter one pound, put it into a pot in the moneth of
_Aprill_, then take of Violets, of Rosemary, red Sage, Buglosse,
Wormwood, Broom, Hysop, Pennygrasse, Vervain, Selfeheal, Hypericon,
and Speedwell, _ana._ one handful; gather them as they be ready, and
put them into the pot with the Butter, and set them into the Sun until
_Michaelmas_, then take it out of the pot, and beat it in a Morter,
then make it up plaister-wise, and reserve it for your use.
_For the Scurvy._
Chop small the knotted place of a Pine Tree, and boyle it well in Ale
or Beer, that the steem may come out; and drink of it, and it will cure
the Scurvy: This was Colonel _Hamiltons_ Secret.
_To cool the Skin, and heal a Sore._
℞. Of oyle Olive one pound and a half, Wax six ounces, of Minium two
ounces, Litharge of Gold two ounces, Ceruse one ounce and a half,
Camphire one ounce and a half; first boyle your Oyle and Wax till it
be melted, then take it from the fire, and put in all the aforesaid
things, being beaten very small and searced, and stir them together
till they be cold, and as occasion serveth annoint the sore place.
_To help paines in the Stomack._
℞. Four graines of Mastick, Swallow them every night to bedwards; this
preserveth the Stomack from all paines, and cureth the same.
_An Ointment for the Stomack._
℞. Capons Grease five pound, Origanum, Wormwood, the tops of Rosemary,
Stomack Mints, _ana._ M. i. and a few Buds of red Roses pickt; chop the
Hearbs very small, and pownd them in a stone Morter, afterward boyle
them in the Capons Grease, till you see the goodness of the Hearbs
boyled out, then strain them, and put so many more Hearbs as aforesaid,
and let them lye all night, then boyle them all again, till the vertue
of the Hearbs be boyled out, then strain them, and take of Cloves, and
Mace, _ana._ ℥. i beaten very small, and let it boyle a walm or two,
keeping it still stirring that it may not grow black, then take it from
the fire, and put it into a pan, or broad dish, and stirre it till it
be almost cold, and put into it a pint of _Aqua vitæ_, and a quart of
the distillation of Vine leaves; this is good for any thing that lieth
heavy upon the stomack, being annointed therewith.
T
_For the pricking of a Thorn._
_Recipe._ Of Violet leaves one handful, of Mallow leaves one handful,
stamp them together, and take a quantity of Bores Grease, and of
Wheat Bran one handful, set it on the fire in clean water, and make a
plaister thereof, and lay it to the greif.
_To draw a Thorn or Splinter out of the flesh._
Moisten the tongue of a Fox, and make it soft with Vinegar if it be
dry, put this on the thorn, or any place where you would have any thing
drawn out, and it will doe it.
2. Black Sope laid to it, will also doe it.
_For the Tooth-ach._
Take of _Opium_ ʒ i. distill it in ℥ ii. of the best _Aqua vitæ_, and
hold a spoonful of this in your mouth, and it will ease you. _Probatum._
_To keep Teeth White, and kill the Worms_
Take a little Salt in the morning fasting, and hold it under your
tongue till it be melted, and rub your teeth with it. _Probatum._
W
_To take away a Wen._
Take the pouder of unslak’d Lime, and mix it well with black Sope, and
annoint the Wen therewith, and this will waste it, and when the root is
come out, annoint it well with Oyle of Balsome, and this will heal it.
FINIS.
_The Printer to the Reader._
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 _James_ deceased, who seriously considering the
facilenesse of providing the Medicines, with their approvednesse in
a necessitous time, and in places remote, both from 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.
_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.
_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. æ. _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.
_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, 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.
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 toades, 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.
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 our 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, Thime, 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 or 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 with some good bread and butter, and in
winter season a potch’d Egg is good eaten with some Vinegar, and for
plethorick 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.
_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.