THE [...]TIMONIALL Cup twice cast: Or, A TREATISE concerning the Antimoiall Cup, shewing the abuse thereof.
FIRST, Written in Latine by IAMES PRIMEROSE D r. of Physicke, in consideration of a small Pamphlet set forth by the Founder of the Cup.
Translated into English by ROBERT WITTIE, Master of Arts, Philiatr.
LONDON, Printed by B. A. and T. FAVVCET. 1640.
The Translators Preface to the Reader.
HAving finished my Translation of the Popular errours, or the errours of the people in matter of Physicke, being a learned Treatise, lately set forth in Latine by D r. PRIMEROSE the Physitian, my very good Friend, it pleased my aforesaid Author to write something touching the Antimoniall Cup, which is now adayes in such frequent use, and so much admired by some, and to give it to me to translate into into English, to be annexed to the former Treatise, being an Errour as common and grosse as any other; But seeing that the [Page]Impression of the aforesaid Treatise a for some reasons procrastinated for a while, it was thought convenient at the request of some Friends, to substrast this from the other, and to set it forth in a small Pamphlet by it selfe, which [...]ow thou hast, being never till now in Print; The other wanting nothing but the Printers art, shall as soone as may be, be Pressed to doe thee service; meane while accept of this lovingly, expect the other patiently, as it is tendred willingly by him, who is thine in any friendly office.
A TREATISE CONCERNING THE ANTIMONIALL Cup, shewing the abuse thereof.
THere is come not long since into use a Cup made of the Regulus of Antimonie, so called by Alchymists, which is sold at a very high rate, and is reported to be good for many things, and diseases, both by him that makes it, and by the people who are alwayes [Page 2]eager in their pursuit after Novelties, and it is thought by the people to be a thing of great value, and heretofore not knowne by Physitians; when neverthelesse, it is very well knowne of all them that have any skill in the Chymicks; for the way of making the Regulus out of Antimonie, is very easie, ordinary, and antient. But that wee may explicate to the people this errour so pernitious, wee will first speake of the Cup it selfe, and then of its force. Now the Cup hath not its vertue from the artificiall forme thereof; for so any Cup made of Silver or Gold should doe the same. But it hath all its vertue from the Antimonie: Now they that pry into the nature of Minerals and Mertals, are of opinion that Antimonie doth consist of crude and very impure Sulphur, Mercury, and Arsenticke: And therefore it is so contrary to our nature, that after what manner soever [Page 3]it be prepared and corrected, it doth even in the least quantity that may be given, offer great violence to the intralls, and doth retaine its malignant quality, which can scarce be taken away by any infusions. If by chance some man of a strong constitution be able to indure the force thereof, hee expels it upwards and downwards, with abundance of humours; but them that are waeke, and such as doe vomit hardly it doth wonderfully gripe and torment; For howsoever it be prepared, it never layes aside its malignant and deadly quality.
Hence many grave Physitians, as Fernelius, Riolanus, Gesnerus, and the whole Colledge of Physitians at Faris, doe utterly dislike the internall use thereof, in respect of its deadly quality too hurtfull to Nature. Neverthelesse to satisfie the people, we will grant, that it may safely be used, [Page 4]so it be rightly prepared, and discreetly used. I know it hath beene diversly assayed to be prepared by the art of the Alchimists, that though not altogether, yet at least in some measure the malignitie thereof might be abated, but that art is not yet fully found out, which can quite take away the force of that Medicament.
Now the common and more ordinary preparations, which are to be sold even small shops, are the regulus of Antimonie, of which the aforesaid Cup is made; The glasse of Antimonie, which the people call Stibium, whereas Stibium is indeed the true name of Antimonie it selfe, and of this Glasse, not of the Regulus ought this Cup to be made, saith Sennertus in his Institutions, and Hartmannus in his notes upon Crollius. Moreover there are made of it Crocus metallorum, or the Saffron of mettals; Pulvis emeticus, Mercurius vita, a Tincture, and an Oyle.
[Page 5]And all these preparations are indued with one & the same quality; to wit, vomiting and Purging, w ch manifests that in none of the aforesaid preparations was the deadlinesse of the Antimony taken away. Now seeing that in all things, yea even in the worst of all there are some degrees of pravitie, the people must know that in all Minerals, that preparation is accounted the best, and least dangerous, in which the forme of the Mettall is lost; for then there is made a greater separation of the pure from the impure; and therefore all Alchymists doe endeavour so to dissolve Gold, a harmless [...] Medicament in it selfe, that the forme of the Mettall being layd aside it may be made potable, and they doe not approve of any dissolution thereof, in which it can returne to its owne nature; which is inde [...]d much more true of Minerals that are of a mischievous nature. It is th [...]refore to be [Page 6]noted that that Antimonie which we call crude, to wit, unprepared at all, is of no force to move the body, and therefore the Antients who were ignorant of Chymicall art, knew no inward use thereof. Now the first and easiest preparation of all, is that, which we call the Regulus, in which the forme of the Mettall is not taken away, but doth melt into a certaine forme of Lead. Hence Dioscorides saith, that Antimonie melted turnes to Lead, having some light knowledge of that Regulus, for it is made of it being melted onely, and so a little refined, and it doth retaine all the malignity of the Antimonie, which layd as it were asleepe before, under the earthy excrement. This doe Mettall-men use, and mixe in Gunnes, Bells, and other the like engines: but seeing it doth yet possesse all the naughty and mischievous qualities of Antimoni [...], it must necessarily [Page 7]follow, that the Cup made of it is most dangerous. Therefore the best Alchymists have quite abandoned it from any use in Physicke, save that by a further preparation may be extracted out of this Regulus the glasse of Antimoni [...], and many other such things farre better than the Regulus it selfe. Wherefore some in stead thereof have used the glasse of Antimonie, as did frequently that most excellent Physitian Matthiolus, the people call it Stibium, and are sore afraid of it, where as indeed it ought to be preferred before the regulus. Neverthelesse Quercitanus, Hartman, and some others of principall note among the Alchymists, who doe highly extoll the vertue of Antimonie, doe thinke this preparation of the Glasse also unsafe, in respect of the mixture of impure Sulphur, which is not yet taken away. And therefore waving those two as not [Page 8]safe, they doe familiarly use the Crocus, or Hepar Antimonij, Saffron or liver of Antimony; Pulvis emeticus, the vomiting powder; and Mercurius vitae, Mercury of the life: Which preparations the Colledge of Physitians at London hath inserted in their dispensatory, and there is almost no shop, in which both the substance and infusion of them is not to be sold. From whence they that doe so much extoll this Cup, may gather, that they use a pernitious and dangerous remedy, whereas the same much better prepared is every where obvious, and to be sold, yet at a very easie rate.
Of the force of the Cup.
AS touching the force of the Cup, it doth not gently [...]t mightily provoke vomit & stool [...] ▪ [...]ow every vomit although it bee [...]ed by the most gentle Medicines [...] is neverthelesse alwaies more ha [...]h [...]o Nature thē any Purgatiō by y e inferior parts, because the stomacke was not made for expulsion, but for reception; for it is one of the noble parts, and of exquisite sence, and hath a very great sympathy with the Braine and the heart, in so much as when it is affected, the people thinke and complaine that their heart akes. It is therefore not good to straine such a noble part with such a violent medicine. But besides, a Vomit doth offer much violence to the strength of the whole Body, straines the Head, braine, muscles of the belly, the breast, [Page 10] [...] [Page 11] [...] [Page 10]and all the intrailes which are contained in the lower belly, and sometimes in grosse bodies breakes the veynes, and lets out the blood. Wherefore if we must not use other purging Medicines, but with a great deale of care and premeditation, much lesse Vomitories; for of all evacuations a Vomit is the most grievous and dangerous. And therefore many things are to be regarded in the provoking of vomit. First, the nature of the patient, and his aptnesse or difficulty for vomiting, for in them that vomit hardly, there is a great deale of danger, although they be sicke of a disease, which might be cured by vomit. Such are they that are fat, those that are strait brested, many slender persons, who have weake stomacks, such are subject to a Cough, or difficulty of breathing, which have tumours or Vlcers in their brests, they that have weake heads and eyes, and such as are [Page 11]troubled with the inflamation, or paine in the Midriffe. Secondly, the time of the yeare is to be considered; for it is not convenient at every time of the yeare. Thirdly, the nature of Diseases; for in some diseases it doth more hurt then good, and in those wherein it may doe good, it must not yet be alwayes used, and therefore the founder of the Cup is mistaken, when hee saith, that the Cup is good for all the Diseases, which stand in need of Purging, as we shall manifest afterwards. Fourthly, the constitution of Diseases; for it cannot be administred at all times of diseases with out danger to the patient: The Physitian must consider in all Evacuations the beginning, increasing, state of the Disease, much more in a Vomit. Fifthly, great care is to be had of preparing the body and the humours, and many things are to be regarded both before the vomit, and in the very act [Page 12]of vomiting, which are not to be handled in this place. So as there is no evacuation, which requires so much consideration, as that which is done by vomit. Now seeing these things can be knowne onely by a Physitian, and that not every one, but by a very learned and sklfull man, I cannot but wonder at the adventurous rashnesse of some men, yea and women, who being unread in the rules of Physicke, grossely ignorant both of Diseases and their causes, their times, and not knowing the method of Curing, dare neverthelesse vexe and torment such a noble subject as Mans body with variety of Medicines; Secondly, perswade vnto vomit, the most dangerous and difficult evacuation of all other; Thirdly, provoke it with a Minerall, whi [...] is most contrary to Nature; Fourthly, to doe it with Antimonie, th [...]n which no Minerall is more churlish; and lastly, to [Page 17]use that preparation of it, which is the very worst of all. Not that I doe altogether dislike the use of Antimonie, for I have often used it with good successe, but better prepared. But especially the founder of the Cup is to be blamed, for selling such a cheap medicine at so deare a rate, the right use whereof he doth neither teach the people, nor I thinke he himselfe knowes: And there tore I have known many, who by taking the infusion of it, haue beene grievously tormented, and some that have dyed, who despising the counsell of Physitians have preposterously used it. For Physicke although it be in its owne nature very good, is the hand of God, but like a sword in the hand of a mad-man, as we have said in another place out of Herophilus, in our Popular Errours.
Of the Founder of the Cup, and the Authours cited by him.
AS for the Founder of the Cup, he professes himselfe a Minister, and Preacher of Gods Word, that is, a man that will scorne to deceive any body, and will not meddle beyond his knowledge, and therefore without question hee hath brought us a very Soveraigne medicine, which he made conscience to conceale any further, though before he was borne, the thing was in use in another name, as appeares by those Authours whom he doth cite for the patronizing of his gaines, thought they are men of small note and hardly worth, to be cited. First, he hath a great commendation of the Antimonie it selfe, extolling it aboue all medicines in the world; So doe they that commend aurum potabile, & o all the Alchymists [Page 19]till this Minister have preferred the Gold before it. It is (saith he) a minerall (according to Paracelsus) consisting of Mercury, Sulphur and salt; So is my glove according to the said Paracelsus. It was first discovered (saith he) by Geber King of Arabia; and yet Dioscorides, Galen, Hippocrates, and ancienter Authors b [...]ore Geber doe speake of it: And he called it Magnesia, as if Geber spake Latine, but Quercetanus calls it so indeed, Secondly, amongst all the medicines that are prepared out of this minerall, he disclaimes from all except the Rugulus, in which he shewes his weaknesse, for the Regulus is the weak [...]st, easiest, and coursest preparation of all others▪ therefore he adds, and what may be conveniently prepared [...] of the same, and that I like well, for our of the Regulus may be drawn [...] the dowers, the glasse of Antimonie, the Cro [...]us metallor, and many other preparations; [Page 20]and herein I adhere to the authority of Bornettus, and Mylius, cited by him; who doe not say, that it is to be used in Physicke, but that it is the chiefest examination of Gold, and the true matter of all Flowers, and medicinali tinctures contained within Antimony, which is true; for the flowers & other Antimoniall extractions must be properly drawne out of the regulus, & the worst of them is better then the regulus it self: Then be brings in Paracelsus with the titles of Orientall starre of Naturall, Spagiricall, and Magneticall light and knowledge. Now I am sure no learned and honest man will approve of such an illiterate man as Paracelsus was, approving and practising Magicall arts, which he calls the Syrups and electuaries of the Divell. But let us heare what he sayes; In his Booke De vitâ long â, pag. 167. cited by this Writer, not a word of the Cup, but onely of the praises of Antimonie, [Page 21]as Alchymists use to doe, that is, beyond the deserts thereof, and that it cures the Leprosie, which notwithstanding Paracelsus never performed therwithall, but howsoever he never used the Regulus, or the Cup, but hath many better preparations of Antimonte then that Cup is, as appeares by the next authority cited by him out of his 6. Booke, Pag. 22. Where he attributes all these vertues unto the quintessence of Antimonie, the Regulus being not the essence of it, but amongst all preparations the coursest and unsafest; and all the passages alledged out of Paracelsus doe in [...]imate no more, but onely that Antimony is an excellent Medicine, that cures (saith he) the Leprosie, Cicatrices, besides many other diseases, but for these two I am sure it is false, for neither by the Cup, not by any other antimoniall Preparation can it be performed. And I beleeve Paracelsus spake hee knew [Page 22]not what, when he saith, As that Antimony refined Gold, so by the same reason it purifies the Body of man. He must bee voyd of reason, who will thinke this comparison true and right, as if there were the same reason for Gold a Minerall, having some convenience of Principles with another minerall, and the Body of man, with which it hath no convenience at all: For the fame might be as well said of all Purging medicines, that cleanse the body of man from all its imparities; but howsoever the Cup is not the right preparation of it to give to cleanse Mans body. Hee brings a second authority of Martinus Rulandus, who calls his Aqua-benedicta the infusion of this Cup, which is absolutely false, and Quercetanus, Libavius, Sennertus, and Hartmannus upon Crollius, yea his owne Son Rulandus sayes otherwise; namely, that his Aqua-benedicta which he commends so much was made of [Page 23] Antimony indeed, but not of the Cup, but of y e Crocus metallor, otherwise called Hepar antimony, y e liver of antimony, or some other better Preparation; as if he did say, that it was the infusiō of this Cup, yet it is not to be used by every one, except they have the same knowledge & judgment, that Rulandus hath; neverth lesse he used other Medicines as bad as this, which he doth commend as much, as his Extractum Esulae, which is absolutely preferred by him before all other medicines, and antimony it selfe, sh [...]wing that no Medicine is good for every body. But Alchymists haue that property, to extoll things to the skies, but when they come to the tryall, they are found false, or else loose their vertues in other folks hands; As for example, that it cured the Frensie, it is [...], for in the dissences of the head, vomiting is very hurtfull, by the consent of all Physicians. That it cured the F [...]lling [Page 24]sicknesse, it were to be desired but it doth not prove so, except that comes from the stomacke, the head being onely affected by the Sympathy of the said stomacke. That it healeth Impostumes in the Lungs, and cured the Pleurisie it is most untrue; For breaking the impostumes in the lungs, if it be given when they are at maturity, perhaps it will, because of the great straining of the upper parts of the body, but another vomite may doe the like, if the man can beare it. The truth is, those that have impostumes in the Lungs are so short winded, that they cannot beare the straining of a vomit; but howsoever an Impostume to be broken, and to be healed are two severall things, a vomit may doe the former, but not the latter. Concerning the Pleurisie; the Physitian, that gives such a purging medicine, that workes upward as well as downeward, in such a disease, is [Page 25]much to be blamed, for working against the rules of Physicke. Quercetanus is so bold in his Pharmacopoeâ, as to speake of such a Cure, but not in a right Pleurisie, but because that booke is full of lyes, I will say no more but this, namely, that neither he, nor Rulandus ever used the Antimoniall cup, or the regulus out of which it is made, no [...] that Quercetanꝰ his Aqua benedicta was made of it; for he himselfe sayes plainly the contrary, 3dly, He brings the book called Basilica antimonij, cō mending Antimony but not the Cup; And to shew how largely these Alchymists speake, hee sayes it cures the French Pox, Leprosie, Gout, and Falling sicknesse, w ch, never a one of them ever performed, and yet y e Basilica speaks of that preparation of antimony that provokes sweating, as well as of others. So I may say the like of [...]rol [...]ius, who commends the Antimonie but no [...] the Cup, and so Mylius, and [...]net [...]us who [Page 26]commends the Antimonie but not a word of the cup. As for Mylius, he is but a transcriber of other mens works & hath compiled a mighty great volume without any judgement word by word out of Paracelsus, Quercetan and others, and hath indifferently put in true or false, whatsoever he found written, so I will not give a straw for his opinion, when he commends the antimony against diseases, which none of them did ever cure. For Bornettus, I know him well, he wrote his booke, being very yong, and I do not thinke he beleeves, that the French Pox, and the Leprosie may be cured by those meanes. Thus I have sisted all the authorities of this man in the behalfe of his Cup which prove onely that Antimony is an excellent medicine, powerfull in operation, and too powerfull in deed, but that the Cup is the pure essence of it, none of them say, nor will any man that hath any skill [Page 27]in Chymistry ever affirme. Besides he brings some Physitians living (and some very well known to me, but the greatest part I know not) who (is he saith) have approved his Cup: I will make a good interpreration of their judgement, for without question the infusion of his Cup will worke, and such bodies might be met withall, in which it hath so powerfully wrought that being able to beare it, they have received much good by it, but that they have said that his Cup was better and safer then other preparations of Antimonie, or then other purging Medicines, and that a woman having bought it, hath also gained knowledge when, and in what Diseases to apply it, I will not wrong their judgement so much as to beleeve it.
Of the vertues of the Cup.
NOw to come to the vertues of the Cup, he makes a great list of [Page 28]all the Diseases for which it is good, naming almost all Diseases that have need of purging from Head to foot, without distinction of the severall causes of them, the Cup is good for them because it purges, and by the same reason all purging Medicines may doe the like, and are good for the same diseases, for Nature hath provided variety of remedies, some strong some weaker, of all sorts, that the Physitian may chuse what he thinkes most fit for his patient, for one same remedy, in the same disease is not fit for every one. When we reade the bookes of Alchymists, they commend other remedies as much as Antimonie for the same diseases. But let us a little consider some particular Diseases named in his Pamphlet, w ch J doe except against; It cures perfectly the French Pox, the Kings evill, the Falling sicknesse, as he saith, in the 9, 10, and 13. th Mark, which is false; nay J say more [Page 29]it is a very grosse mistake, and rash boldnesse in him, or any man, to prescribe the infusion of this cup in the Plague, small Poxe, spotted Fever, and Purples, for all violent medicines that draw the venimous humours of these diseases within the body which Nature doth expell to [...] circumference, doe worke against the rules of Art. It is also false that any vomit is good for the Pleurisie; and so I say the like of a Consumption: If the founder of this Cup had well knowne the nature of these diseases, he would never have said so. Indeed where nature hath need of purging or vomiting this cup may serve, observing all that is to be considered in the use of those evacuations; for we doe not deny that it will worke, but this we say, that it being the worst and vnsafest preparation of all others, it is better to use some other then it, and all those diseases that he brings experience for, [Page 30](leaving out those that have been killed by it) might have been performed by other vomits, made our of the antimony, or other simples working the same effect.
Of the manner of vsing the Cup.
NOw the manner of using the cup shewes the weakenesse of the man, he bids to put the Cup into a pot, and cover it with liquour to be above the cup an inch or two, then to boyle it gently for two houres, & so to keepe it warme for twelve houres, then to take a cup full of it or more, & the quantity of his liquor is a pinte of Wine for two, yet it workes better sayes he, if two or three cup-fuls be taken, and hee is bold to say, that it works without any violence, gives counsell if it should worke three or 4. dayes together, not to stop it, & in the end to beware of counter feit Cups. [Page 31]Here are as many Errours as words; First, it is needlesse to shape the Regulus into a cup, seeing the Wine is not to be infused in the cup, but the Cup in the wine in an earthen pot. Is not a little lumpe of the same Regulus without any particular shape, as good as a Cup of it? And if one doe steepe it, will it not thinke you infuse its vertue into the liquour, as well as the Cup, & best of all if it were in powder? But thus the Regulus had beene bought too cheape, but we must have it a cup or a Ring (forsooth) to make the people beleeve it is not an ordinary thing. Secondly, being thus prepared by boyling, makes the drink look so distastfully, and makes it to lose its vertue, so as if a Child hath need of halfe a pint, a strong man of two or three, as he sayes. Let the R [...]ader goe to an Apothecaries Shop in any part of the Kingdome there he m [...]y [...]i [...]d a little Stibium, w ch is Antimony in glasse, [Page 32]of this let him take sixe graines weight, let them steep closely in two or three spoonfuls of white wine, and it will be every whit as pure as it was without any taste, & it will worke as well, and more safely; but if you feare the Stibium, not without cause, take as much of the Regulus out of which he makes his cup, use it as I have said, and it will worke in as little quantity. Yea steepe the Cup in a quart of Wine close without any fire, for a fourthnight, give but two or three ounces of that Wine, and it will work with a better effect. Thirdly, that it works without any violence, it is not so, for I know many that have taken it, who have been grievously tormented with it, and this is common to all vomits, yea even when they are provoked by the strength of nature. Fourthly, it is a pernitious counsell to suffer a superpurgation, and Physicke to worke so long, if it happen [Page 33]well in some strong bodies, it is not to be thought that it will doe so in every one. The last, to beware of counterfeit Cups, is to keepe the people continually bound to him; for (saith he) if it be broken, bring it to him in weight, and for Ten shillings he will give you a new one. This is the best tricks of all his booke, a pound of antimony unprepared is hardly worth above sixe-pence in the Druggisters Shop, for twelve pence or eighteene-pence more, of that pound one may have halfe a pound and more of this Regulus, what the casting of it into a Cup is worth let any body judge, in very deed three cups of 4 or 5. ounces a piece, doe not stand the maker to above ten Shillings. Besides when the cup is broken, the vertues are not broken, the pieces being steeped doe retaine the same vertue, and will worke the same effect, as when the Cup was whole. The mettall then being so [Page 34]good cheape, and the preparation of it so easie, there is no great feare of counterfeit ones, for a counterfeit one is like to cost more, then a right one.
To conclude, I say, though this Cup should be so admirable, yet it is beyond the capacity of any that is not a Physitian, to adapte the right use of it to every person, for all Diseases, times, and places, as wee have said already; nor doe I thinke the Founder himselfe hath the full knowledge of these things.
Jmprimatur,